Salman Khan Reveals Why Priyanka Chopra Walked Out of ‘Bharat’ Despite Eagerness to Work on the Film

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan recently opened up in an interview about the much-talked-about exit of actress Priyanka Chopra from the 2019 film Bharat, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. According to Salman, Priyanka was initially extremely enthusiastic about joining the project, even going as far as making repeated calls to him and his family to secure the role.

“It must have been very difficult for her to make this decision because she was very keen to work on this project,” Salman stated. He shared that Priyanka had contacted his sister Arpita Khan Sharma multiple times, expressing her strong desire to collaborate with him on the film. “She has called up Arpita a thousand times, saying, ‘I want to work with Salman.’”

Salman further revealed that Priyanka had also spoken directly to director Ali Abbas Zafar, urging him to find a way to include her in the film. “She even called up Ali and told him, ‘See if you can get me something in this film,’” he said, adding that she was genuinely excited to be part of the project.

However, despite her apparent eagerness, Priyanka eventually decided to step away from Bharat. According to Salman, the turning point came when she got engaged to American singer and actor Nick Jonas. “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,’” Salman recounted with a smile.

He went on to clarify that Priyanka’s role only required around 75–80 days of shooting, and the team was more than willing to adjust the schedule around her wedding plans. “Her work was for 75-80 days. 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,” he said. However, despite their willingness to accommodate, Priyanka remained firm in her decision not to be part of the film.

Salman’s comments reflect both his surprise and disappointment over her exit, especially considering her earlier persistence. Priyanka’s departure from the film had made headlines back in 2018, and Katrina Kaif was later brought in to replace her as the female lead.

At the time, Ali Abbas Zafar had announced her exit with a tweet that subtly hinted at the reason, saying, “Yes Priyanka Chopra is no more part of @Bharat_TheFilm & the reason is very very special... she told us in the Nick of time about her decision and we are very happy for her.”

Though the incident had stirred speculation and media buzz, Salman’s recent comments provide clearer insight into the events behind the scenes, revealing how personal priorities influenced a major casting change in one of Bollywood’s most anticipated films.