by Subhash K Jha

"For someone who never works out, never goes to the gym, these past few days have been killing."

Priyanka Chopra is in a lot of pain. And it has nothing to do with her heart. "I've started taking martial arts lessons for Roma's role."

In the original Don, Zeenat Aman played the avenging angel Roma. She cuts her hair and creates a violent scare for the villains with her attitude of devil-may-care.

Chuckles Priyanka, "I' m a big big fan of Zeenat Aman. Her Roma in Don was really kick-ass. But mine would be different, radically different."

One of the vital ways in which Priyanka's Roma in Don departs from Zeenat's interpretation of the character is the on-screen physical violence.

"Yes, I'm be doing a lot of stunts and I'm doing them on my own. In fact I've started rigorous coaching in martial arts with a guy called Kanisk...And boy, is it tough!"

The toughening up of Priyanka Chopra has taken its toll on her. "When the training started I had aches and pains all over me. Believe it or not, I never go the gym. I never work out. So this training is really strenuous. I hope I survive."

Incidentally, if you find Priyanka's claim that she never works-out hard to believe here's more for the believe-it-or-not department.

Urmila Matondkar who's a voracious foodie claims she never works out. And Aishwarya Rai says she knew nothing about physical training until she got into a super-svelte shape for Dhoom 2.