She never limits herself: Actor Heli Daruwala on being inspired by Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra’s career has been a major source of inspiration for Heli Daruwala, especially her willingness to take on different and demanding roles. Speaking exclusively to India Today, the Love Lottery actor said Chopra’s choices and her ability to move beyond any fixed screen image are what she admires most.As Love Lottery marks Daruwala’s first film as the female lead, she also spoke about her own approach to choosing characters. She said she is drawn to layered parts and would not shy away from difficult roles, adding that the film has already started opening up fresh opportunities for her.Speaking about the actor whose career she admires, Heli told India Today, "I really admire Priyanka Chopra and the choices she has made throughout her career. I love how she keeps challenging herself with powerful roles and constantly breaks her own image to create something even stronger. She never seems to limit herself to a particular kind of character, and I absolutely love her in everything she does. She’s truly iconic, and I find her journey incredibly inspiring."Daruwala had also drew comparisons with Priyanka Chopra’s performance in Aitraaz while discussing her own character in Love Lottery. Asked whether what appealed to her was the fearlessness of playing an unlikeable woman or the attention Priyanka received despite not being the conventional heroine, she said such parts matter because they allow an actor to explore something more layered. "My character is the heroine of the film, and I’m the only female actor in it. It’s just that she has so many layers and shades to her, which makes her really interesting to play. Priyanka Chopra’s performance in Aitraaz is iconic, and I absolutely love her as an actor. I think she paved the way for so many artists to explore unconventional characters and make bold choices. For me, it ultimately comes down to the art and the artist. If I get an opportunity to play something challenging, I would never look at it as something that could come in the way of my career. In fact, I believe taking on such roles will only push me forward and bring me closer to achieving my dreams," she said. On waiting for her first lead roleAlthough Heli has been acting for years, Love Lottery marks her first film as the female lead. She said the wait never made her question her ability or whether the opportunity would eventually come. "Honestly, no. I’ve always had tremendous self-belief and faith in my craft and my work. I’ve always known what I’m capable of, and I trusted that eventually, I would get the opportunity to do what I love the most, which is be a part of films. For me, it was never about how long it would take, but about continuing to believe in myself and my journey," Heli shared when asked if she had ever wondered why it was taking so long to get a lead role.On opportunities after Love LotteryWith the film now released, Daruwala said she can already see a shift in her career. "I think Love Lottery has definitely opened a lot of doors for me. I’ve been getting calls for some really good projects, and you’ll be seeing me in more films and exciting OTT projects as well. I feel the fraternity is now more aware of my work and what I bring to the table, which is exactly what I wanted Love Lottery to achieve. And I’m really excited about what’s coming next," she said.Love Lottery, directed by Arvind Pandey, was released on September 25 and also stars Akshay Oberoi.- Ends