She makes no bones about admitting that she is a more confident person following her weight loss, but actress Parineeti Chopra, who believes being a celebrity puts her in a privileged position, says she still has a long way to go to be as fit as she wants to be.
Parineeti, who was last seen on the big screen in 2014 in "Kill Dil", was on the chubbier side when she entered Bollywood with "Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl" in 2011. But her transformation towards the end of last year left her critics tight-lipped.
Does she feel more confident?
"Yes, for sure! I do feel more comfortable in different clothes. I used to be conscious about how I am looking because I wasn't confident about my body... But I do feel more confident as compared to earlier," Parineeti told IANS in an interview over phone from Mumbai.
But the 27-year-old actress was quick to add that she is "still a work in progress" as it "will still take a couple of months to completely get into the shape" that she wants.
She has realised that being fitter helps in showbiz.
The "Ishaqzaade" and "Daawat-e-Ishq" star said: "I think being your slimmest and fittest -- whatever your body type may allow -- is important because it helps you to do a variety of things on screen... I think if you are not your fittest self, then it limits you in the characters you play."
However, being a celebrity, didn't she get affected by or feel stifled by brickbats and criticism that came her way even before and after her weight loss?
Parineeti said: "Not at all. I think we are in a great position, where anything that we do reaches out globally and people all over the world get to see it, comment on it and give their opinion on it. I think it's a privileged position to have."
She stressed that getting a "100 percent positive review" on any aspect is not possible.
"Good and bad will always happen... You can never have a 100 percent positive review on anything and that's the beauty of this industry. It depends on the millions of different people. They will have different opinions on that one thing you have done. So, I feel it's a privileged position I am in," she added.
Now, in her spruced up avatar, Parineeti will next be seen in Yash Raj Films' "Meri Pyaari Bindu", where she will seen playing an aspiring singer.
Would she like to be part of the small screen as well?
"Totally! I think the kind of person that I am I love interacting with people and doing different things. I think that I will be a good fit on TV... But I would wait for something really exciting to come up," said the six-film-old Parineeti, the cousin of actress Priyanka Chopra, who is making India proud globally with her stint in American showbiz.
