Is Salman Being Snarky About Priyanka Chopra’s Exit from ‘Bharat’?

Salman said when Priyanka expressed her intention to leave Bharat, she cited a different reason.

Salman Khan said he got to know about Priyanka Chopra's decision to leave Bharat quite late but congratulated her for bagging a major Hollywood project. Director Ali Abbas Zafar had shared the news that Priyanka left Bharat, saying the reason was "very special" and she told them about it in “Nick of time". Soon after the announcement, there were reports that Priyanka had got engaged to American singer Nick Jonas, whom she is reportedly dating.

Days later, the actor bagged Cowboys Ninja Vikings opposite Hollywood star Chris Pratt. Talking to reporters at the trailer launch of his upcoming production Loveratri Salman said, "I am really happy for her. If we had known that she has signed a big film in Hollywood, then we wouldn't have stopped her. The thing is that we got to know about it at the end moment and that too 10 days before the start of the shooting. We got to know that she wants to leave the film and has gone home,” he added.

Salman said when Priyanka expressed her intention to leave the Bollywood project, she gave a different reason. “That time some other reasons were given to us. That (Priyanka’s rumoured engagement to Nick) might also be the reason but this (her Hollywood project) is also a reason. Whatever reason it is, whether marriage or film or she does not want to work in India or she does not want to work with me and only Hollywood films and TV shows, it’s hers.”

Salman Khan went on to say that he was very happy and supportive of her work. “She is making India proud,” Salman said. "If she does not want to work with Salman Khan, at least she is working with a big hero of Hollywood. So we are ok with that.”

Salman said after Priyanka left the project that they approached Katrina Kaif, who despite being busy with big multi-starrer projects like Zero and Thugs of Hindostan came on board and saved the day. "When she told us that it is not working out, we wished her luck and we went to Katrina.” The 52-year-old actor expressed his happiness over Katrina being a part of Bharat. The first schedule of the film wrapped up on 6 August and now the team will proceed to Malta for the next filming schedule.

With inputs from PTI.