Himalayan News Service

Mumbai:

Priyanka Chopra is baffled by director Afzal Ahmed’s claim that she was supposed to play the role of Umrao Jaan’s daughter in his film. “I don’t even remember this guy. He had probably approached my dad with an idea that we never said yes to. And now he claims I was to do his film,” Priyanka said. “JP (Dutta) saab and I have been in discussion for quite a while. In fact we’re working on the dates right now. We should start shooting soon,” she said, referring to the film Dutta is planning on Umrao Jaan. Ahmed has, meanwhile, gone ahead and announced his film with Pakistani actress Meera in the lead. “He’s welcome to it. May the best woman win,” Priyanka said. “Of course Meera, being a Pakistani, can speak Urdu a lot better than me. My first reaction to the idea of playing Umrao Jaan was nervousness. How can I play a character that’s so complex and timeless?” Having got over her initial trepidation, Priyanka is all set to brush up her kathak and Urdu. “I’m going to hire teachers for this.” Priyanka has also been finalised to play the lead in Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don’. “Can you believe it? I’ve to reprise roles already done to perfection by Rekha in ‘Umrao Jaan’ and Zeenat Aman in

‘Don’. My only saving grace is that both the directors will allow me to interpret the characters in my own way,” she said.