The filmmaker opens up about his bond with Priyanka and why they never reunited after ‘The Hero’.
Priyanka Chopra has established herself as a global icon, making waves in both Bollywood and Hollywood with her groundbreaking roles. With a massive fan base spanning India and overseas, her journey from a Bollywood debutante to an international superstar has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Filmmaker Anil Sharma, who directed Priyanka in The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003), recently shared insights about their bond and why they never collaborated again. In an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Sharma revealed that he shares a familial connection with the actress but never found the right project that matched her stature after The Hero.
Anil Sharma on Priyanka’s Rise to Stardom
During the conversation, Sharma recalled how Priyanka’s career was at a crossroads due to a surgery that affected her complexion. At one point, she even considered leaving the film industry. He shared that her family was on the verge of relocating, with her father already in Raebareli. However, fate had other plans. Sharma mentioned that while he put in a good word for her with filmmakers like Sunil Darshan and Subhash Ghai, Priyanka’s success was entirely her own doing.
“I had no role in her success,” Sharma emphasized. “When someone is talented, destiny brings people into their lives who help them along the way. I may have been one of those people, but she is where she is today because of her own hard work.”
A Strong Bond, But No Collaborations
Despite not working together again, Sharma described his relationship with Priyanka as warm and family-like. “Whenever she sees me in a crowd, she always comes up to me,” he said, adding that their shared cultural roots from Uttar Pradesh further strengthened their connection. His father, a talented singer, also resonated with Priyanka’s musical lineage.
Why Priyanka Didn’t Feature in His Later Films
Sharma explained that after The Hero, Priyanka became a massive star, and none of his subsequent films had roles that suited her stature. “Priyanka Chopra itni badi star ho gayi thi, and unke layak koi film hi nahi thi (Priyanka became such a big star, and there was no film worthy of her),” he stated.
He further elaborated that when Gadar was made, Priyanka had not yet entered the industry. Later, during Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo, his focus was on launching Divya Khosla Kumar, with Katrina Kaif in a small role. Shilpa Shetty was cast in a pivotal role as a wife and mother, but he felt it wasn’t appropriate to offer it to Priyanka, even though she might have accepted it.
A Journey of Her Own
While their professional paths never crossed again, Priyanka carved a remarkable journey of her own, conquering Bollywood and making her mark in Hollywood with films and television projects like Quantico and Baywatch. Meanwhile, Anil Sharma continues to helm impactful films, including the recently released Gadar 2.
Despite never reuniting on-screen, the mutual admiration between Priyanka Chopra and Anil Sharma remains strong, proving that sometimes, destiny takes its own course—even in the world of cinema.
