Yes, for the first time ever, Pepsi has decided to opt for a Bollywood actress as their brand ambassador, and Priyanka would join an elite club that would have such names as Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ranbir in it.

The soft drink company that had focused on cricket stars earlier, had of late turned their attention to Bollywood stars as well, and Priyanka would be paid close to 4 crores INR annunally, claims unconfirmed reports.

It was Amitab Bachchan who seems all bowled over the sweet film. The Big B tweeted, “Late again after a hectic day on set of KBC … BUT … all strain of work vanished after having just finished seeing ‘Barfi’ .. Ranbir Kapoor a masterful brilliant performance .. Priyanka, simply unbelievable, and Anurag Basu’s extraordinary making. In ‘Barfi’, the lovely Ileana d’Cruz in her debut for Hindi film … such a mature and balanced performance .. many congratulations.”

“Indian Cinema, its films, directors, actors, technicians going through a magical phase of a change over .. such exciting times !!” he added. Now if that isn’t reason enough for celebration for the ‘Barfi’ team, then we wonder what is!

Priyanka has revealed that it was none other than Shahrukh Khan himself who helped her play the role of the autistic girl to perfection in ‘Barfi’. SRK himself had essayed a similar role in the film ‘My Name is Khan’ and he had lent her the research that he had done for the character.

Priyanka herslef tweeted this bit of news the other day. “Also thank you SRK for lending me all your My Name is Khan research, you gave me perspective on Jhilmil..owe you another one..love always,” went her tweet.

Each of them have undoubtedly contributed their very best to the film, but actor Ranbir Kapoor feels that of the three roles, Priyanka had the toughest character to essay. Priyanka plays an autistic girl in the film.

The film has been directed by Anurag Basu, and has been well received both by the critics as well as by the general public. Ranbir, Priyanka and Ileana have won laurels for their respective performances as well.

DNA India thinks you should not miss it for anything: “From start to finish, director Anurag Basu never gives up on Barfi’s quirkiness, while in another home autistic Jhilmil’s (Priyanka Chopra) ashamed parents have packed her off to a children’s home. Told in flashbacks of many peripheral characters, Basu’s story touches chords from every angle, risks getting convoluted somewhere in between then comes back on track, Barfi and Jhilmil in tow.”

Rediff thinks its magical, but deeply flawed: “A well-crafted script with an intriguing back-and-forth narrative — set in the present day, 1978 and 1972 — Barfi! intrigues, right to the point somewhere down the middle, when it becomes more than apparent exactly what the film’s story is, after which all goes south. The film’s naïveté starts to wear thin, previously cast spells now appearing repetitive as the movie tragically falls into the very traps of mawkishness and manipulation it avoids so, so adroitly through the start.”

NDTV Movies thinks the film is excellent: “Silences seldom spoke so eloquently. It’s been a while since we saw a film that set style at a subsidiary state to substance, put the characters’ inner life ahead of the flamboyant manifestations of self-identity in a world governed by benevolence and charm. Barfi! is a very charming film. It’s remarkably devoid of vanity.”

“Busy on #Jhalak yesterday. Shot two episodes! Met with cast of Barfi, Ranbir and Priyanka. Kareena also there for Heroine. Met Eleana for the first time. She is very sweet. Had a great time with all of them,’ she tweeted.

Madhuri herself is on a comeback trail to Bollywood, and would start shooting for her films ‘Desh Ishqiya’ and ‘Gulaab Gang’ shortly.

Priyanka plays Jhilmil, an autistic girl in the film, and the film focuses on the very special relationship that she shares with Murphy (Ranbir Kapoor), who is both deaf and dumb.

Priyanka looks real awesome, (as does Ranbir and Ileana) in the film, and from the looks of it, she might very well bag yet another National Award for Best Actress for her essayal of Jhilmil. The film releases on the 14th of September.