Priyanka Chopra exited the upcoming period drama starring Saif Ali Khan and directed by Ritesh Batra. The actress left due to a scheduling conflict as the project started shooting in Mumbai on October 21. A source said, "Priyanka was expected to join the Mumbai shoot. However, she had to bow out."
As per reports, Priyanka Chopra is no longer part of Saif Ali Khan and Ritesh Batra's period drama, and has exited due to a scheduling conflict.
Priyanka Chopra was expected to headline Saif Ali Khan and Ritesh Batra's upcoming period drama, but looks like things haven't worked out as planned. The actress has reportedly exited the yet-untitled film due to a scheduling conflict, just as the project begins shooting in Mumbai.
Why Did Priyanka Chopra Step Away From The Project?
According to a report by Mid Day, Priyanka Chopra was keen to be part of the film and work with both Saif and Ritesh. However, her existing commitments made it difficult to accommodate the shoot dates. The team reportedly tried to work around her schedule, but the plans didn't come together.
"Priyanka was expected to join the Mumbai shoot. However, she had to bow out of the film. She was keen to headline it, and work with both Saif and Ritesh. Her existing professional commitments, however, led to a scheduling conflict. The team explored the possibility of working the dates around, but it just didn't work out," a source told the publication.
The film went on floors on October 21 at a museum in Byculla, Mumbai. With the shoot already underway, the makers are now looking for someone to step into the female lead's role.
Who Will Play The Female Lead After Priyanka Chopra's Exit?
The casting search is reportedly down to two leading actors, with the team expected to make a decision soon, reports Mid Day. For now, the shoot is moving ahead with Saif filming his portions over the first few days.
The film is also expected to be shot on a start-to-finish schedule across different parts of South Mumbai.
Priyanka Chopra And Saif Ali Khan Have Never Shared Screen Space
Interestingly, Priyanka and Saif have never worked together on screen. The period drama could have marked their first collaboration, however, looks like that won't be happening after all.
Ritesh Batra, meanwhile, is known for directing films such as The Lunchbox (2013), The Sense of an Ending (2017), Our Souls at Night (2017) and Photograph (2019).
With filming already underway, it remains to be seen who will eventually take on the female lead and join Saif in the period drama.
Saif was last seen in Priyadarshan's thriller film 'Haiwaan' which also starred Akshay Kumar.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra will next be seen in SS Rajamouli's highly anticipated film 'Varanasi' starring Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film will release on April 7, 2027.
Apart from this, Priyanka also has the upcoming sci-fi action thriller Bluefly with Russell Crowe. She will also be seen in the survival thriller 'Reset', directed by Matt Smukler.