Priyanka Chopra the star and Priyanka the brand, which stands for innovation and intelligence, has grown from strength to strength.

Priyanka admits that at times films do not work because the execution goes wrong or the script turns out to be paper-thin. However, she is not a gal who will wallow in self-pity over her failed films. She has learnt from her mistakes and moved on. She has signed on enough projects to last her until next year. Says the actress; "I'm listening to several scripts right now. At the moment the last film I've signed is Don 2. I'll be shooting that for 3 ½ months from October."

In Vishal Bhardwaj’s film, Priyanka plays a character that murders seven of her husbands. What’s easier, playing the pretty face, the seductress, the siren, or the murderer? “I just don’t like it easy, I think,” comes her quick reply, “The more it challenges me the more it excites me. I think I like to mix the bag a little bit. I’ve done Kaminey, Dostana, and I’ll be doing Don, and Vishal’s film; I like jumping from one to the other.”

Priyanka would be doing a lot of exotic stunts in Don 2. "I can't say what kind of stunts. But they are pretty cool. I was looking for that one action flick. I like to try different things in each of my films. After Kaminey, I took on a light romantic film Anjaana Anjaani. Now, I'm doing a serious black comedy Saat Khoon Maaf...I always have been adventurous."

She isn't allowed to speak about her role in Saat Khoon Maaf much, except to say she would not be assuming seven different looks in the film. "I'm playing only one character going through seven different experiences. Changing my look for every phase would be gimmicky. I'm working with a team and actors who are brilliant. I'm still trying to figure out the complexities of my character."

Priyanka doesn't see herself as a conventional actress. "I never have walked the conventional path. I've never thought of consequences. Vishal Sir is a director who trusts me implicity and I know I've to live up to that trust."

In Vishal's earlier film Kaminey, Priyanka had a relatively small role. "But I don't think of my role as big or small. If I've five powerful scenes I'd do it. In Kaminey, I had just eight scenes. I'm very content with the space I am in. I started working when I was 18. So I've been able to work with a spectrum of co-stars from Sunny Deol to Shah Rukh Khan to Hrithik Roshan and now Ranbir."

Favourite co-star – Umm, tough pick, oh my God, I have a lot of favourite co-stars. Well... since Shah Rukh Khan’s my favourite actor, I kind of get dumbfounded when I work with him; I still do, so he wins!

Sexiest heroine - I’d say besides myself, if I had to pick someone, I think Deepika and Bipasha. Very sexy bodies, very fit, toned, beautiful.

Best actress – Kajol, for sure. Wackiest person, the most fun, completely crazy.

Favourite outfit – Saree, I wear a lot of dresses because it’s more convenient, but I would love to wear sarees everywhere.

Abhishek Bachchan - Abhishek was the first co-actor who was around my age. I had a blast with him on the sets of Bluffmaster. He lights up any place he is in. I don’t know anyone who is more fun than Abhishek. He is always joking or playing pranks. And he is amazing at what he does. We also worked together in Dostana where I felt like I was an intruder. There was a proper bromance going between John Abraham and him.

Shah Rukh Khan - I’ve been a huge fan of Shah Rukh since I was a teenager. So it was a little surreal working with him in Don. But we go way back actually. He was on the panel of judges for Miss India when I won the title, so he was sort of responsible for kick starting my career. Then I went on the world tour with him. I can never be on backslapping terms with him. I am tongue-tied around him and have trouble calling him by his name sometimes. But he is really so very good to me. He is so kind. We have similar backgrounds too. We both came from non-film background so in that sense we are self-made.

John Abraham - John has a very innocent air about him but actually he is the most shaana guy I’ve ever met also very good looking and funny. John is a genuinely nice guy. He has this straight-faced humour that constantly has me in splits. On the sets of Dostana though, I was the odd one out. These boys used to hit the gym together, go for shopping sprees, they did everything together. They kind of forgot about me.

Salman Khan - Again, Salman is someone with whom I worked very early on in my career. I was petrified of him but he was really nice to me. He took me under his wing. He understood I was young, unsure and in awe of everything around me. He has given me advice I will never forget. He told me to stand by my values no matter what. Stand by the people who have helped you grow and don’t forget your beginnings or the people who stood by you when you were a nobody. He taught me that integrity is something on which you can’t compromise. Do we have a problem with each other? I’m afraid you will have to ask him that because I look up to him immensely.

Ranbir Kapoor - He is a film kid and he knows a lot more about films than I do. He's a brilliant actor and fab co-star. Ranbir is amazing in Anjaana Anjaani. He kept me on my toes on camera.