By Subhash K Jha

Last week Priyanka left for a show in Antwerp with Kareena Kapoor and Malaika Arora. "No guys. Just us three girls dancing. It was fun," she chuckled.

Priyanka is smiling year to year. "Since I came in 2002 I've had some successes. I'm very excited. My tagline for the success of Krissh is, 'Krissh Arrives Superman Returns'.

Isn't that cool? I love it. I'm so excited about the success of Krissh. I've never planed anything in life. When these wonderful things happen to me I'm just so grateful."

Life is looking rosy after Krissh. "It's been just two weeks since its release. I wish I had more time to enjoy the success. But at least I'm in Mumbai. I feel really bad for Duggu (Hrithik) because he's away.

I can see how people are reacting. On the day of release I went theatre-hopping. I stood outside the exits of 8-9 theatres and heard people go mad. I loved it."

Priyanka has clearly come to terms with the somewhat tepid response she personally got for Krissh. "Whatever people say I won't allow it to take it away from my pleasure at the success of Krissh. Hrithik is a fantastic actor.

Anyone who works with him has to try really hard to be as good as him. I'm learning on the job. I can't tell how much I've learnt from Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan during Krissh." For the first time Priyanka talks about the pain she went through during the shooting of Krissh.

"I'm not making excuses for people's reaction. But I really went through shitty times during the shooting. My dad fell ill, and it was a trying time for me. But I don't want to blame any personal circumstance for my bad clothes, makeup, whatever.

It was my fault. As a professional I've to give a hundred percent of myself to a film, no matter what trials I may have gone through. If I seem lackadaisical in the film I've no right to do so. Now I've become a lot more conscious about my responsibilities. I can't take anything for granted."

 It's being said that Priyanka has the maximum number of hits to her credit after Hema Malini. "Wow that's flattering. I love Hemaji. She's so beautiful. Along with Hamaji my favourites are Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi and Kajol. They're my temples and instititutions."

Her next release will be Dharmesh Darshan's Aap Ki Khatir. "I don't know how the film has shaped up. But I'm very happy with my role and performance. I'm waiting for that film to surprise me as well.

What thrills me most is the variety of directors I am working with. If Dharmesh is a class act, Nikhil Advani with whom I'm shooting Salaam-e-Ishq at this very moment, is another ball game.

Nikhil is such a caring director. He gives me time to prepare myself. If I need extra minutes to do my makeup he waits patiently. I tell you, good things happen to good people. Nikhil is one of them."

At the moment Priyanka hasn't signed anything new. "Because I haven't been enthused by anything to that extent. Of course there're plenty of offers. But I'm playing it safe. At this moment I can't afford to slip up. I know how hard I've worked to get here."