Priyanka in a private asylum?

Vacationing in Thailand as she brings in her birthday today, actress Priyanka Chopra is barely able to speak coherently. "Iu00a0 had to scream so hard for a sequenceu00a0 inu00a0 Saat Khoon Maaf, I lost my voice. Now,u00a0 being in the water constantly while on holiday is not going tou00a0 help my throat one bit," says Chopra, who turns 28 today.

For her roles in Ashutosh Gowariker'su00a0 What's Your Raashee (12 characters) and Vishal Bharadwaj's Saat Khoon Maaf (about a woman who goes through seven different marital experiences), Chopra studiedu00a0cases of multiple-personality disorder.

Now, for her role in Anurag Basu's Silence, Chopra is not only willing to learnu00a0 aboutu00a0psychological behaviour but she has agreed to go the whole hog. Chopra plans to visit and stay at a hand-picked institution that's devoted to looking afteru00a0 the mentally disturbed.

Confirms a source, "At first, Priyankau00a0 was reluctant to take on the film since another leading lady (Katrina Kaif) was already on board. But when she understood the impact and nature of her role, Priyanka fell for it. She has preparing for it and intends to visit a few institutions, where she plans to spend at couple of days."

Says Chopra, "I will begin shooting for Anurag Basu's film in January 2011u00a0 after I complete Don 2. And yes, I'm setting aside time to prepare for the part. I will need special training to be adept at playing the character. How many actors from my generation get challenges like this? If I'm being given theu00a0 opportunity, I better make the most of it," she said.