Anil Sharma refuses to take credit for Priyanka Chopra's success, recalls casting her without a screen test in her debut: ‘She still has the middle-class sanskaar of a UP family'
Priyanka Chopra
began her Bollywood journey under the direction of
Anil Sharma
. Fresh off her Miss World 2000 win, she made her acting debut in The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003) alongside
Sunny Deol
and
Preity Zinta
.
The big-budget spy thriller, touted as the most expensive Indian film of its time, not only earned her an award for Best Supporting Actress but also marked the first step in a career that would turn her into a global icon.
'It is all her hard work'
In a recent interview with News18, director Anil Sharma downplayed being credited for
Priyanka
's success. 'It is all her hard work,' he said, before recounting how he first saw her on television when she was crowned Miss World. Impressed by her beauty, he invited her to meet him, and she arrived with her father, Dr.
Ashok Chopra
.
Sharma recalled feeling an instant connection, noting they were based in Bareilly at the time.
First role without a screen test
Sharma revealed that Priyanka became the first actor he ever cast without a screen test. 'After talking to her, I quickly handed over the cheque. Just by speaking to her, I knew she was a performer,' he said. The filmmaker added that her dedication, along with life experiences, shaped her into the international star she is today.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It?
Memory Health
Click Here
Undo
Sunny Deol, Anil Sharma play Holi with 'Gadar 2' crew
'She still has that respect for me'
Reflecting on her personality beyond fame, Sharma described Priyanka as 'a wonderful person' who continues to greet him warmly whenever they meet. 'She doesn't hesitate to leave her group when she spots me. She still maintains the middle-class sanskaar of a UP family. She has become such a big personality today, par use asmaan ki hawa nahi lagi,' he remarked.
Despite their bond, Sharma admitted that it has been a long time since they last met, as Priyanka rarely visits India for work these days.
"Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie
Coolie
and
War 2
."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
'She's legit disgusting': Travis Hunter's wife Leanna Lenee slammed as gold digger after shocking ring finger tattoo
Travis Hunter and Leanna Lenee's wedding was followed by online speculation after a photo surfaced showing a "$" tattoo (Image via IG) W hen Jacksonville Jaguars star Travis Hunter tied the knot with longtime love Leanna Lenee in May 2025, their wedding in Chattanooga, Tennessee, seemed like a fairytale moment. The two had been together since Hunter's high school days in Georgia and got engaged in February 2024. But just days after their ceremony, the couple found themselves at the center of online gossip — all thanks to a small tattoo and an even smaller social media snapshot. Fans zeroed in on Leanna Lenee's ring finger tattoo It began when a photo of Leanna Lenee hugging Travis Hunter from behind started making the rounds on X (formerly Twitter). The image appeared to show a '$' tattoo inked on her ring finger. Some fans quickly jumped to conclusions, suggesting the symbol hinted at materialistic intentions. — illuminakisoul (@illuminakisoul) One commented, "And she's legit disgusting. He's a young kid… it's sad." Another user commented, 'Can't say there wasn't signs..', while another added, 'What a million dollar mistake looks like.' Others took a harsher stance, claiming, 'If anything happens, it's his fault for being blinded by love (lust).' The speculation piled on top of earlier viral chatter from their wedding day, when a clip seemed to show Lenee dodging a kiss during their first dance — a moment critics eagerly dissected. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health and comfort: the comfiest slip-on shoes of the year Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo Cam Newton stepped in to defend the couple Despite the online noise, neither Hunter nor Lenee addressed the rumors. But former NFL MVP Cam Newton took the opportunity to publicly back the newlyweds. Speaking on his 4th & 1 with Cam Newton podcast, he said: 'Congratulations to the Hunters. You know his wife, LL Cool J. She cool. She has been a punching bag, and it's unfortunate… But guess what, baby, who's laughing now? I'm so happy for Travis because this young man has done everything asked and then some.' Also Read: Travis Hunter and wife Leanna Lenee welcome new family member ahead of his rookie NFL season Newton's words were a rare moment of support amid a storm of online criticism. And while the tattoo debate has since faded from the headlines, it remains a reminder of how quickly a private detail can become public fodder in the social media era. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Are we going to the dogs? Hope so, writes Vir Das
There was a time when the phrase stand-up comedy meant very little to India. And then came Vir Das. Who not only showed us that India had a funny bone, but that she was not afraid to laugh at herself. Comedy before 2004 was an indulgence for the older generation and an alien art form to the younger. Vir brought in a young, raw and edgy brand of comedy, and got the youth to follow it. Like his name, Vir went bravely where no one had gone before - politicians, prime ministers, super celebrities, actors, sex, family, kids no one was safe from his rapier wit. Audiences lapped it up and even as comedy on television was plumbing the depths of mediocrity and recycled jokes, Vir brought wit, originality, edginess, and sophistication to Indian stand-up comedy. He was last seen in Delhi Belly, read on to get an insight into this quick witted actor and stand-up comedian's mind. LESS ... MORE We live in decidedly strange times when comedians are writing in newspapers. Not sure what that says about the state of the nation. Some might say we are 'going to the dogs'. I'm not going to lie, I hope we do. People far smarter than me will tell you about humane animal birth control, data on what happens to dogs abandoned in shelters, how culling largely captures innocent non-aggressive dogs, or how massive amounts of funding, time, and resources are required for effective sterilisation, vaccination and rehabilitation drives. Experts have spent this week screaming from the rooftops. I'm not as accomplished or remotely as intelligent. But as someone who has adopted indies off the streets, and as an emotional idiot, here's what I can tell you. I could tell you a dog looks at idiots like me and geniuses like you in the exact same way. It doesn't care how smart you are. And isn't love at its purest the ignorance of someone's stupidity? I could tell you dogs don't like screaming and loud voices, so weirdly, a dog values quality journalism more than an Indian who watches primetime television. I could tell you that a dog doesn't get upset at random tariffs. To them an orange blonde making loud noises is a toy full of stuffing, not himself. A troll doll, not just a troll. I could tell you everything is upward to a dog. The average height of Indian men is 5 ft 8 inches, but to a pet, we are all Bachchans. I could tell you a dog poops between one and three times a day. In a sea of shit content, quite literally a 'content creator'. I could tell you that dogs don't know what your religion is, and yet they are capable of worship, because they see a god in you everyday. I could tell you a dog doesn't know about generational wealth or how much your wedding cost. They measure inequality in scratches and rubs. I could tell you a dog doesn't care about your 'drip', the one hanging off their chin is longer. A 'fit check' is whether they can successfully fit under your armpit. I could tell you that dogs pick up on kindness. They're a great barometer for who should be in your life. They sniff enough A-holes to recognise them. I could tell you that a generation that sends dogs to an early doom is going to crave that kind of love in their later years. I could tell you that the sound of panting in your ears is far more informative than a podcast. I could tell you that a dog has no political ideology and if you put a bird in front of it, it will eat the left wing as quickly as the right one. When a dog chooses a leader, it follows them with respect, not fear or greed. I could tell you that when a dog lies next to you, it scientifically increases your body temperature, and that in our educational system, it would take you nine years to get three extra degrees. I could tell you that dogs are capable of love, not likes. With LITERAL engagement and triple the dopamine. I could tell you that dogs feel anger, not hate. And therefore, every single dog, given time and resources, is capable of being trained to respect humans and their boundaries. Anger is merely fear in the present. Hatred is fear from the past, poisoning the future. Anger passes, hate sticks. I could tell you that everything you love about a dog can be found triple-fold in our Indian indies. More than any other breed in the world. That they belong in your home, in your sight, on your mind, on your lap. I could tell you that when we forget dogs, they remember. I could beg you that it's easier to adopt an indie, than an ideology. I could tell you that a dog sitting in the corner creates safety, and us standing in their corner will too. I could tell you that a dog will sometimes keep you up at night. But if we collectively abandon them, I'm not sure how we will sleep at night. I could tell you bullets have strays, indies have communities. I could tell you a dog doesn't have to be in your home for you to be their home. God willing if you let them in, you can watch your home become someone's entire world. Every single thing that is good about us as a nation, as Indians, can be found mirrored back to us in tiny eyes under flopping ears. EVERYTHING. I hope we can be what THEY see. I hope we DO go to the dogs. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Taylor Swift accused of slyly shading Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole while gushing over the Chiefs' TE
Taylor Swift accused of slyly shading Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole (Getty Images) Taylor Swift 's first appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce 's New Heights podcast gave fans everything they wanted — album news, romantic confessions, and just enough subtlety to fuel speculation about whether she was taking a playful swipe at Kelce's ex, Kayla Nicole. The bracelet story that has Swifties convinced there was more than romance in the air During the episode, Swift revealed how Kelce's attempt to give her a friendship bracelet during her 2023 Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium never worked out. 'I've never seen the original,' she teased, as Kelce admitted he was 'butt hurt' about the missed chance. — Miss_AshG (@Miss_AshG) Swift then likened the gesture to something 'out of an '80s John Hughes movie,' adding: 'It was also like we kind of live in this day and age where it's like the most romantic gesture that anybody makes towards a girl is usually like their picture, DM them, whatever... but this kind of felt more like I was in an 80s John Hughes movie." Fans quickly connected dots to Kelce's previous relationship with Nicole, which reportedly began through Instagram interactions. Whether coincidence or intentional, the parallel didn't go unnoticed. Swift's own takeaway? 'If this guy isn't crazy, this is exactly what I've been writing about since I was a teenager.' Kelce, in turn, recalled being 'mesmerized' by her performance that night and feeling an instant spark. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo The Noodle Box Undo Brittany Mahomes joins in with her reaction to Taylor Swift's big album reveal Swift also used the podcast to announce her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop October 3. The 12-track record includes titles like Elizabeth Taylor, Father Figure, and Ruin the Friendship, with the final song being a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. Kansas City Chiefs WAG Brittany Mahomes wasted no time showing her support, commenting on Instagram: 'This is SO GOOD.' Kelce hyped the project as '12 bangers,' while Jason Kelce offered his own unfiltered review — 'f****** bangers.' Also Read: 'Myopic and rigid sports fans': Colin Cowherd blasts NFL fans for backlash over Taylor Swift cheering for Travis Kelce Between playful banter, possible subtle shade, and major album buzz, Swift's podcast debut proved why she and Kelce remain one of pop culture's most magnetic duos. Whether the Kayla Nicole link was intentional or fan imagination, the love story and new music announcement have cemented this episode as a Swiftie favorite. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
