Confirmed: Katrina Kaif is Salman Khan’s heroine in Bharat, replaces Priyanka Chopra
Salman Khan’s films are always in the news but the press that Bharat has been getting since Friday is for an entirely different reason – Priyanka Chopra leaving the film ostensibly to get married to Nick Jonas and the search for her replacement after the film began its shoot. Well, the search ends now and Bharat’s new leading lady is Katrina Kaif, confirmed film’s director Ali Abbas Zafar.
Katrina will star opposite Salman in Bharat and will begin shooting for the film in September, Ali Abbas has confirmed to Mumbai Mirror. Salman and Katrina have worked in many films earlier including the highly successful Tiger Zinda Hai and Ek Tha Tiger as well as films such as Partner, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and many more. Salman and Katrina make for one of the most beloved Bollywood jodis and their fans will be over the moon with the Bharat announcement. The duo also performed on Dabangg tour recently.
The Bharat director told Mirror, “I am extremely excited to work with Katrina and Salman again. We have had exciting collaborations in the past. Katrina got on board in the ‘Nick’ of time for this project.”
On Friday morning, Ali had confirmed that Priyanka had quit Bharat with a rather interesting tweet. He wrote, “Yes Priyanka Chopra is no more part of Bharat the film and the reason is very very special, she told us in the Nick of time about her decision and we are very happy for her. Team Bharat wishes Priyanka Chopra loads of love and happiness for life.” Later in the day, People magazine confirmed Priyanka and her boyfriend Nick Jonas are indeed engaged.
While Salman’s father Salim Khan and Ali were at pains to say that they have nothing against Priyanka for leaving Bharat, the CEO of Reel Life Productions, Nikhil Namit, who’s producing the film, called the actor unprofessional. “Priyanka told us she had to exit due to her engagement, two days ago. It was a little unprofessional of her to do it so suddenly,” he was quoted as saying in Mid-Day.
Over the weekend, Ali had tweeted that the film’s new leading lady will be announced soon. “Yes yes yes ... we will announce the leading lady of Bharat soon.. We have been shooting non-stop and the simultaneously preparing for international schedules,” he tweeted on Saturday morning. Bharat went on floors earlier this month with the first schedule being that of a pivotal circus sequence. Salman Khan’s Bharatalso stars Disha Patani, Tabu and Nora Fatehi.