Priyanka Chopra’s relationship with acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been one of mutual respect and understanding, despite never starring as the lead in any of his directorials. In a candid conversation at the Red Sea International Film Festival, Priyanka shared a touching story about how Bhansali showed immense empathy and support when she was grieving the loss of her father before the shoot of the 2014 film Mary Kom.
Priyanka Chopra Opens Up About Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Thoughtful Gesture
During the filming of Mary Kom, Priyanka faced a deeply personal tragedy—her father’s untimely passing. As the actress was about to begin shooting the sports drama, Omung Kumar’s biographical film about the famous boxer, Priyanka found herself torn between her personal grief and professional commitments. Speaking about the difficult time, Priyanka revealed that Bhansali, who was producing the film, personally visited her father’s funeral to offer condolences.
“He gave me a hug and said, ‘You don’t need to come to work. I understand, it’s totally fine. We’ll shut the sets down. We’ll do it when you’re ready,'” Priyanka recalled. However, in a touching testament to her father’s values, she chose to return to work just four days after the funeral.
Priyanka Chopra’s Tribute to Her Father: Putting Grief Into Boxing Scenes
Priyanka’s decision to return to set so quickly was motivated by one strong belief: “The one thing that my father would’ve never wanted me to do was not go to work,” she explained. She added that she poured all of her emotional pain and grief into her boxing scenes for Mary Kom, channeling her loss into her performance. This determination and emotional depth helped make her portrayal of the Olympic boxer even more powerful, earning critical acclaim.
Priyanka’s Continued Grief and The Sky Is Pink
In a later interview during the promotion of The Sky Is Pink (2019), Priyanka confessed that she had never fully processed her father’s death. The emotional impact of losing him was profound, and it affected her deeply for years. It was partly this grief that drove Priyanka to choose a project like The Sky Is Pink, which focuses on the different ways parents cope with the loss of a child. The film, in which Priyanka co-produced under her banner Purple Pebble Pictures, allowed her to explore her feelings and ultimately begin to process her father’s death in a creative way.
Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali: A Strong Bond
While Mary Kom marked their first major collaboration, Priyanka had previously worked with Bhansali in a special song for his 2013 film Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. Their collaboration continued with Bajirao Mastani (2015), where Priyanka played the role of Kashi Bai, the wife of Peshwa Bajirao I, portrayed by Ranveer Singh. The film was a massive success and cemented Priyanka’s place as one of Bollywood’s leading actresses.
Upcoming Projects: Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Looking ahead, Priyanka Chopra has several exciting projects lined up, including The Bluff, Heads of State, and Citadel season 2. On the other hand, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is currently busy working on his next film, Love & War, featuring an ensemble cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal.
Both Priyanka and Bhansali continue to make waves in the industry, with their past collaborations showing the strength of their professional relationship and mutual respect.
Film career
In 2002, Priyanka Chopra made her acting debut in the Tamil film “Thamijhan.” After that, she went on to make her Bollywood debut in Sunny Deol’s thriller movie “The Hero: Love Story of a Spy”, where AmrishPuri, along with Preity Zinta and Kabir Bedi, was featured in the movie. Following that, she appeared in blockbusters like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Andaz, and Aitraaz. Later on, she also performed a negative character in the well-praised film Aitraaz.
In 2008, she acted in a movie named “fashion,” for which she also won the National Award for Best Actress. She played the lead role as an actress in movies such as 7 Khoon Maaf, Dil Dhadakne Do, Kaminey, Barfi, and Bajirao Mastani, which took her to gain even more stardom. She also played up the role of Alex Paris in the American TV series Quantico from 2015 to 2018.
Following that, Priyanka Chopra made her Bollywood reappearance in 2019 with the movie named “The Sky is Pink”. She appeared in this film alongside Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim. She is such a passionate actress that never stopped, and thus, she further appeared in the movie “The White Tiger”, which is being created under her own production company.
Conclusion: A Story of Strength, Grief, and Art
Priyanka Chopra’s journey through personal loss and professional triumph is a testament to her resilience and dedication. With the support of filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Priyanka has been able to transform her grief into art, touching millions of hearts with her performances.
For more information: https://watchnewz.com/