Just before Priyanka Chopra, who celebrates her birthday on July 18, left Mumbai to pursue a career in the West, she did a final film in Bollywood. It was Prakash Jha’s Gangaa Jal in which Priyanka played a gritty cop battling corruption in a small town in Bihar.
The role was originally written for a male actor. So Priyanka was officially the hero of the film. When she upped and left, Prakash Jha had to promote the film on his own.
Looking back, Prakash Jha holds no grudges. “She had other commitments. Priyanka had told me well in advance that her dates were committed for shooting of a series abroad… She did address the media whenever she could by joining online!!”
In fact, Prakash was desirous of working with Priyanka in another project. “I had offered her the lead in Raajneeti with Ranbir Kapoor. For reasons best known to her, she decided not to do it, although I was keen she do it. That’s when Katrina Kaif stepped in. I wanted to cast Katrina and Priyanka together. But Priyanka had other plans. Today I am so so happy she has moved so far ahead. Much further than any of us could have imagined! It is astonishing to see her being such a good wife and a great mother and a globally known actress. Hats off!”
Prakash is open to working with Priyanka. “I’d love to work with her. But would she?”
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