Priyanka Chopra is all set to begin a new phase of her life – a married one with her ‘Mr Right’ Nick Jonas. What started off a whirlwind romance, took everyone by surprise when the 36-year-old Bollywood actress grew serious with the 25-year-old singer. There are reports doing rounds about the couple being engaged and it would be safe to say, an early marriage is on the cards. However, amidst the buzz around couple’s engagement, there’s also bitter displeasure among Priyanka Chopra fans. No, it’s not weeping broken-hearted dudes but fans who have always looked up to the Indian actress. Priyanka’s decision to walk out of Ali Abbas Zafar’s film Bharat opposite Salman Khan has not gone down too well with her fans, and why we second their opinion of calling her ‘unprofessional’.

On Friday, Ali took to Twitter to announce about Priyanka parting away from Bharat. He writes, “Yes Priyanka Chopra is no more part of @Bharat_TheFilm & 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 @priyankachopra loads of love & happiness for life 😊😉😍”. Ali who has previously worked with Priyanka in the 2014 film Gunday seemed cheerful in his message, which indirectly confirmed Priyanka and Nick’s early wedding plans. But it does not take away anything from the fact that last-minute backout is a big setback for the film.

Priyanka was going to make her acting comeback in Indian films, with upcoming Bollywood flick, Bharat helmed by Tiger Zinda Hai director. It is headlined by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. Fans were all excited about seeing the two on the silver screen again after Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Salaam-E-Ishq (2007). She had returned to India and was supposed to begin the shooting next month. Everything was in place, untill one fine day, Priyanka decided to pull out of the project. This entire episode has left people raising questions over the actress work ethics, and they might not be entirely wrong. Fans Ask If Priyanka Chopra Is Pregnant With Boyfriend Nick Jonas’ Child! Twitterati Calls PeeCee’s Walkout From Salman Khan’s Bharat Movie ‘Unprofessional’!

Since winning the Miss World title in 2000 at the age of 17, Priyanka has ben a role model to millions of girls around the world. Hailing from Bareilly, a small city in Uttar Pradesh, the actress made it big in the world of entertainment on her terms and conditions. From Bollywood movies to the West television drama, from Filmfare to Oscars red carpet, Priyanka Chopra’s journey has been incredible. It was her sheer dedication, hard work, and most importantly, willingness to do justice to every project that took her to great heights. What happened this time around? Please do not tell us a new relationship and subsequent marriage plans made her unlearn her best traits.

Priyanka has been in relationships in the past. But never did it become a hindrance for the star to leave a project after committing to it. And digesting the fact that Priyanka, a feminist role model, cannot work post marriage, provided it happens during the same phase of the Bharat’s shoot is just impossible to digest. Again, it’s her choice to not work after marriage and in that case, Priyanka should not have signed the film in the first place. She was officially introduced as a part of Bharat in April, with Salman Khan welcoming her. And now after four months Priyanka decided to backout at the time when shoot was supposed to begin. If that’s not ‘unprofessionalism’, what is it then?

While we are extremely happy for Priyanka and her new beginning with Nick, her recent action has left a sour taste in mouth. Especially when there are actresses like Anushka Sharma and Sonam Kapoor, who stuck to their work commitments even after marriage. In fact, Sonam flew off to Cannes Film Festival 2018 two days after her wedding, because it was a pre-planned event. Keeping her words, Sonam walked the red-carpet at the French Riviera with bridal mehandi on her hands. And there’s Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was working round the clock during her pregnancy and in fact returned to do Veere Di Wedding a few months after delivering her first child. The film was a hit and Kareena was simply stunning in it.

So, yes, heart-breaking to say it, but Priyanka did a major disservice to women who are out there trying to prove their marital statuses have nothing to do in the professional setting.

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 27, 2018 04:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).