Priyanka Chopra is happy to be in Bollywood at a time when women performers are doing much more in films than just being a pretty face.

The 31-year-old actress, who now has a budding international music career, says it is great to see strong roles being written for women in the industry, which is often blamed for being male-dominated. Priyanka thinks she has finally managed to strike a balance between big budget commercial fares and roles that do justice to her as an actor.

"I think it is really good time for female actors in Bollywood. We get to do so much... Parts are being written for us. I am very fortunate that roles are being written for me where I can do much more than just being a pretty face," the former Miss World told PTI in an interview.

"Yes, you have to do films like that also (being a pretty face). But, it is great to have the ability to have so much going on for you," she adds. Priyanka had two releases last year -- the superhit 'Krrish 3' and 'Zanjeer' remake which did not do that well. She is looking forward to her first release this year with 'Gunday' hitting the screens tomorrow.

In the Yash Raj Film, Priyanka plays the role of a glamorous cabaret dancer Nandita in the Kolkata of 1970s. She is being romanced by Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor. Priyanka says she was inspired by her mother's look in that era to recreate Nandita.

Priyanka is all set to begin shooting for the next schedule of Mary Kom, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali produced biopic on the Olympian. The film is being directed by Oumang Kumar. The actress considers it one of the toughest roles in her career.


"I have to train with every schedule. The next schedule will begin in about 10 days. It is definitely something that has taken a big toll on me. It is a film I hope I can pull off. I hope it changes a lot of things." Other than Mary Kom, the actress has signed up for Zoya Akhtar's untitled film. Priyanka, who suffered the death of her father Dr Ashok Chopra in June last year, says she immersed herself in work to cope up with the tragedy.

"I don't think you can ever get over it... But it (work) was a way of dealing with it. I don't know how else to deal with it because it just threw me off a lot and shook me tremendously. The best way for me to have dealt with it was to go to work."