4th July 2023,Mumbai: Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif’s rumoured exit from the production has brought attention back to Farhan Akhtar’s eagerly awaited film, Jee Le Zaraa. Even though there hasn’t been an official word from the film’s creators, we now know that Katrina will still be in the cast even though Priyanka has decided to leave the movie.
Earlier this week, it was reported in a number of places that Priyanka had to abandon the movie due to scheduling conflicts with the second season of Citadel. Due to her Hollywood commitments, Priyanka was unable to commit to the dates for the 2023 shoot, so she asked Farhan if they could instead shoot for Jee Le Zaraa next year. “It didn’t work out,” a source tells us, adding, “It’s true and a very unfortunate development that PC will no longer be able to do the film, but there’s no bad blood between her and the team.” Farhan was okay with it, but Alia Bhatt is already committed to shooting for Ramayana and Baiju Bawra in 2024.
Along with Priyanka, there have been speculations that Katrina has also chosen not to participate in the movie, leaving fans to worry if it would be shelved. And the insider dismisses this report as unfounded. There is no basis for it. It’s a project which will definitely be made because it is very close to Farhan as well as Zoya,” says the insider, further stating, “Katrina is still on board and has not yet left. She and Farhan have a tight relationship as a result of her work on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. There is therefore no chance that she will abandon the project without a valid excuse. She currently occupies a prominent position among the main cast. Additionally, the concerns about the movie being shelved are unimportant.”
Another report claims that the producers want it to be perfect, which is why the film’s writers, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, are delaying the start of the film’s shoot schedule. “It hasn’t been put on the back burner by anyone. There is no specific candidate in mind to replace Priyanka, so the producers will now begin exploring prospects”, say the source.
On the 20th anniversary of his 2001 directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan announced his return to directing with the friendship road movie.
-by Kashvi Gala