When Priyanka Chopra quit Salman Khan starrer Bharat, fans were disappointed. But it was more to do with the fact that the actress had not done a Bollywood movie in a long time. Of course when Ali Abbas Zafar hinted that the reason why Priyanka left his film was because of her engagement with boyfriend Nick Jonas. However, when news of Priyanka’s film with Chris Pratt, Cowboy Ninja Viking was announced Salman saw red. The actor went on a rant against the Quantico babe. In one interview he took a jibe at PC for informing in the nth minute and in another one he talked about the actress’ desperation to work with him.

Salman Khan said, “It must have been very difficult for her (Priyanka) to make this decision because she was very keen to work on this project. She has called up Arpita a thousand times, saying, 'I want to work with Salman'. She has even called up Ali (Abbas Zafar) and told him, 'See if you can get me something in this film'.”

We do not know if the actor was being sarcastic or just making a statement. Because in the same interview he also said, “She (Priyanka) had a reason to do that. It's just that the project got stuck. Had we known earlier, we could have worked it out better. She was getting engaged and I told her, 'If you are getting engaged, what's the need (of exiting the project)?' Then she said, 'Shaadi karni hai' to which I said 'Toh shaadi kar lo'. Priyanka's work was for 75-80 days. Shaadi ke liye chaar din ka preparation, aur chaar din ki shaadi, aath din ke andar ho gayi aur phir uske baad honeymoon. So, we said we will work it out. But she was very clear that she didn't want to be a part of the film.”

Katrina Kaif stepped into Priyanka’s shoes immediately. But apparently Salman holds this move of Priyanka against her. Because first there was the announcement of the actress’ Hollywood film with director Michelle MacLaren and then the fact that Priyanka decided to work with Farhan Akhtar in Shonali Bose’s The Sky Is Pink, while she quit Bharat.

Buzz also suggested that Salman Khan’s ex-manager Reshma Shetty with who the Bharat actor had massive fallout suggested Priyanka exit from Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat. There were also reports suggesting how Priyanka was not comfortable with the new additions to the film. Actresses like Disha Patani and Tabu also became a part of Bharat and Priyanka apparently felt that the film was moving in the same space as Salman’s Race 3, where Jacqueline Fernandez got a raw deal.

Whatever the reason for Priyanka leaving Salman Khan’s film, Bhai is not too pleased with the actress’ move and might hold it against her. Inside buzz is that while Deepika Padukone is keen on working with Salman, the actor never green-lit a project with the actress because of her equation with ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif. We all know that Salman Khan fans may not really have an option of turning down an offer leave alone ditching it five days before shoot and taking up other movies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2018 09:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).