Salman Khan once revealed top Bollywood actress called his sister 'thousand times' for a role in his movie

Years after the release of Bharat in 2019, an old interview with Salman Khan continues to attract attention due to the dramatic casting changes it highlighted. At the time, the exit of Priyanka Chopra from the project made headlines, and Salman had openly addressed the situation, shedding light on what really happened behind the scenes. The film, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, eventually starred Katrina Kaif, but Priyanka's initial involvement—and sudden departure—remains a notable chapter in the film’s journey.

Salman’s Recollection of Priyanka’s Interest

In a conversation with Bombay Times, Salman revealed that Priyanka had shown intense interest in joining Bharat. He shared that she contacted not only director Ali Abbas Zafar but also made repeated calls to his sister, Arpita Khan Sharma. According to Salman, “She has called up Arpita a thousand times, saying, 'I want to work with Salman'. She has even called up Ali (Abbas Zafar) and told him, 'See if you can get me something in this film’.” This strong desire to join the cast made her eventual exit all the more surprising.

Salman recalled being surprised when Priyanka backed out of the film, attributing her decision to her engagement and wedding plans. He said, “She was getting engaged and I told her, 'If you are getting engaged, what's the need (of exiting the project)?' Then she said, 'Shaadi karni hai', to which I said, 'Toh shaadi kar lo'.” He further explained that her role required approximately 75 to 80 days of shooting and that the team was willing to adjust around her wedding schedule. “Shaadi ke liye chaar din ka preparation, aur chaar din ki shaadi, aath din ke andar ho gayi aur phir uske baad honeymoon. So, we said we will work it out. But she was very clear that she didn't want to be a part of the film.”

While the official reason given was her wedding, Salman didn’t rule out other possibilities. He said, “Not doing this had to be because of the wedding or because she doesn't want to work with me anymore. It could also be because she doesn't want to work in humari industry (Bollywood) or wants to work only in Hollywood. Whatever she wants to do, I wish her all the best in life. We are glad that she is engaged and happy.”

Katrina Kaif Eventually Took the Role

After Priyanka’s exit, Katrina Kaif stepped in to play the female lead. Salman mentioned that she was actually the preferred choice of the film’s producers, Atul Agnihotri and Alvira Khan. “Atul and baby's (Salman's sister Alvira Khan's) first choice was Katrina. But since Ali and Priyanka have worked together, Ali wanted to work with her, because she told Ali that she wanted to work in the film.” Katrina’s performance as Kumud was well-received, and her involvement helped steer the film back on track without further disruptions.