Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 6: Global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who played the female lead in the last two instalments of the Krrish franchise, is officially making her return to Bollywood with Krrish 4, marking a full-circle moment in her Indian film journey.
After headlining Krrish and Krrish 3, Priyanka moved westward to pursue an international career, achieving success in Hollywood and later marrying singer-actor Nick Jonas. Her last Hindi film appearance was in Shonali Bose’s The Sky Is Pink in 2019. She was subsequently finalised for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, but the role reportedly slipped out of her hands at the last minute and eventually went to Alia Bhatt.
It was at this crucial juncture that filmmaker S S Rajamouli and Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu stepped in, offering Priyanka a pivotal role in Rajamouli’s much-anticipated project Varanasi. According to sources close to the development, unlike certain Bollywood A-listers, Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu had no hesitation in casting Priyanka.
“They treated her like the cinema royalty she is, offered her remuneration comparable to what she commands in the West — far higher than what she has ever received for a Hindi film — and even expanded her role once she came on board,” a source revealed.
Another source close to the project said that Priyanka has formed a close bond with Mahesh Babu, his wife Namrata Shirodkar and their daughter Sitara during the film’s journey.
Calling Varanasi her strategic return to Indian cinema, a leading Bollywood filmmaker said, “This is Priyanka’s gateway back into Bollywood via Telugu cinema. She has consciously chosen to represent Indian cinema on the global stage through Rajamouli’s cinematic universe.” The filmmaker also claimed he was “briefed” not to sign Priyanka when he earlier planned a female-led action film with her.
With Varanasi and now Krrish 4, Priyanka Chopra Jonas appears set to reclaim her space in mainstream Indian cinema, blending global stardom with homegrown franchises.