Priyanka Chopra on Bollywood's fake culture: 'I cannot stand it'
Synopsis
Priyanka Chopra's candid admission on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal — that Bollywood is overrun with 'fake' and 'pretentious' people, and that she herself had briefly become one of them — is a rare moment of self-aware honesty from a star who went on to conquer Hollywood. Now set to return to Indian screens in SS Rajamouli's Varanasi, her arc feels like a deliberate reclaiming of identity.
Key Takeaways
Priyanka Chopra revealed on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal that she dislikes Bollywood's culture of pretence and fake behaviour.
She admitted that early in her career she had herself begun to adopt the same performative behaviour before reversing course.
Her Bollywood filmography spans over two decades, from The Hero ( 2003 ) to Bajirao Mastani ( 2015 ).
She has since built a parallel Hollywood career with Citadel , The Bluff , and Heads of State .
She is reportedly set to star in SS Rajamouli 's Varanasi alongside Mahesh Babu , playing historian Mandakini .
Priyanka Chopra, one of India's most globally recognised entertainers, once candidly confessed her biggest gripe with Bollywood — its culture of pretence — during a now-iconic appearance on Simi Garewal's celebrated chat show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. The revelation, which resurfaced in entertainment circles, offers a rare unfiltered glimpse into the actress's early disillusionment with the film industry.
What Priyanka Said About Bollywood
In her own words, Chopra did not hold back. 'I don't like people who are pretentious, and most of them are. I mean, we do have intelligent people around, but there are so many people who are so fake, that's something I just cannot stand. I mean, I think even I was in the beginning, very very much. That is completely and entirely not what I am,' she said on the show.
The admission was striking for its honesty — Chopra acknowledged that she had herself begun slipping into the same performative behaviour early in her career, before consciously course-correcting.
A Career Built on Breaking the Mould
Priyanka made her Bollywood debut with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy in 2003 and rapidly carved out a reputation as one of the industry's most versatile performers. Her filmography includes landmark titles such as Andaaz (2003), Aitraaz (2004), Krrish (2006), Don (2006), Fashion (2008), Barfi! (2012), Mary Kom (2014), and Bajirao Mastani (2015).
Notably, her role in Fashion and her portrayal of boxer Mary Kom are widely regarded as the performances that cemented her credibility as a serious dramatic actress — a far cry from the industry's more superficial currents she had critiqued.
Her Hollywood Chapter
Having established herself firmly in Indian cinema, Chopra successfully crossed over to Hollywood, headlining projects such as Citadel, The Bluff, and Heads of State. The transition positioned her as one of the few South Asian actors to build a sustained mainstream presence in the West.
What's Next: The Rajamouli Comeback
Priyanka is now set to return to Indian cinema in a high-profile capacity. She has reportedly been cast as the female lead in acclaimed director SS Rajamouli's forthcoming action-adventure drama, Varanasi. She will essay the role of Mandakini, described as a fierce historian, alongside Mahesh Babu, who plays the protagonist Rudhra. The plot reportedly follows Rudhra and Mandakini on a globe-spanning mission to protect the holy city of Varanasi from an asteroid named Shambhavi.
The project marks one of the most anticipated Bollywood-adjacent productions in recent memory, and Priyanka's casting signals a full-circle moment — a return to Indian screens on her own terms, after more than a decade of global work.
Point of View
At least partially, as self-preservation. What mainstream coverage often misses is the structural dimension: the 'pretence' she describes is not incidental but endemic to an industry where access, casting, and public image are deeply intertwined. Her return via a Rajamouli production — arguably the most merit-driven filmmaker working in Indian cinema today — reads less like nostalgia and more like a calculated statement about the kind of work she now chooses to associate with.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Priyanka Chopra say she dislikes about Bollywood?
Priyanka Chopra said she cannot stand the prevalence of fake and pretentious behaviour in Bollywood. Speaking on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, she stated that while the industry has intelligent people, far too many are 'so fake' — and she admitted she had briefly become like that herself early in her career.
Which chat show did Priyanka Chopra make this revelation on?
She made the revelation on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, a celebrated Indian chat show hosted by actress Simi Garewal. The show was known for drawing candid disclosures from its celebrity guests.
What are Priyanka Chopra's most notable Bollywood films?
Her standout Bollywood films include Andaaz (2003), Krrish (2006), Don (2006), Fashion (2008), Barfi! (2012), Mary Kom (2014), and Bajirao Mastani (2015), spanning a wide range of genres from action to biographical drama.
What is Priyanka Chopra's next project?
Priyanka Chopra is reportedly set to star in SS Rajamouli's action-adventure drama Varanasi alongside Mahesh Babu. She will play Mandakini, a fierce historian, in a story that reportedly involves saving the holy city of Varanasi from an asteroid named Shambhavi.
How has Priyanka Chopra fared in Hollywood?
Priyanka Chopra has built a notable Hollywood presence, featuring in projects such as Citadel, The Bluff, and Heads of State. She is considered one of the few South Asian actors to have established a sustained mainstream profile in the West.
