Priyanka Chopra recently discussed feeling “trapped” in Bollywood and her near exit to pursue a career in the West. Though the Dostana actress refrained from naming names, Kangana Ranaut has accused filmmaker Karan Johar of “banning” and “harassing” Chopra.
During a conversation with Dax Shepard, Priyanka, known for her roles in Hollywood’s Quantico and Baywatch, disclosed feeling cornered in Bollywood due to resistance from industry insiders. “I was being cornered in the industry (Bollywood). People weren’t casting me, I had conflicts, and I’m not good at playing those games. I was exhausted by the politics and needed a break,” she explained.
While facing blatant discrimination, her manager Anjula Acharia suggested she pursue a music career in the US, leading to her eventual success. Describing her eagerness to leave Bollywood, Priyanka said, “This music opportunity allowed me to explore another part of the world without having to network within certain groups or grovel. I had worked long enough that I didn’t want to do that.”
In a series of tweets, Kangana, elaborating on Priyanka’s remarks, accused Karan of “bullying” her. She claimed everyone knew Karan Johar had “banned” Priyanka and blamed her fallout with Karan on her friendship with Shah Rukh Khan. The Manikarnika actress called for Karan to be “held accountable” for his actions.
Kangana and Karan’s rivalry began when Kangana referred to him as the “flag bearer of nepotism” on Koffee with Karan season 5.
This isn’t the first time Priyanka has spoken out about Bollywood’s harshness. On The Ranveer Show last year, she revealed how “certain people” tried to sabotage her career.
In terms of upcoming projects, Priyanka will appear in the spy series Citadel with Richard Madden, premiering on Prime Video on April 28. She is also expected to return to Bollywood in Farhan Akhtar’s Jee Le Zara, co-starring Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif.