Rajniesh Duggal on losing Priyanka Chopra film: 'She didn't want a newcomer'
Synopsis
Rajniesh Duggal's 2 am rejection call from a Priyanka Chopra project became a career-defining moment. Dropped because Chopra wouldn't work with a newcomer, Duggal transformed the setback into a principle: he would never refuse an unproven talent. It's a candid look at Bollywood's casting hierarchies and how early rejections can reshape an actor's values.
Key Takeaways
Actor Rajniesh Duggal was cast opposite Priyanka Chopra in the film Yakeen early in his career.
He received a call at 2 am informing him he was being removed because Chopra did not want to work with a newcomer.
Duggal was still in acting school and had barely faced the camera at that time.
The decision's origin — whether from Chopra , her management, or producers — remains unclear according to Duggal .
Duggal vowed never to refuse working with newcomers, a commitment he has maintained throughout his career.
Actor Rajniesh Duggal has opened up about a pivotal early-career setback when he was dropped from a film opposite Priyanka Chopra shortly after being cast. In an exclusive interview, Duggal revealed that he received a late-night call informing him that Chopra was unwilling to work with an inexperienced actor at that stage of her career.
The Yakeen opportunity that slipped away
The film in question was Yakeen, a project where Duggal had been signed opposite Priyanka Chopra when he was still a newcomer and enrolled in acting courses. At the time, Chopra was already working with established names like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. According to Duggal, the decision to remove him came abruptly — he received a call at 2 am informing him of the change.
The reason given
Duggal recalled being told directly that Chopra did not wish to collaborate with a newcomer. However, he acknowledged uncertainty about whether the decision originated with Chopra herself, her management, or the broader production team. "I don't even know whether it was her call, or her manager's call, or the overall people involved in the project," Duggal said, adding that at that point in his career, he had barely faced the camera.
A lesson that shaped his career
Rather than harbour resentment, Duggal used the experience as a turning point. He made a conscious decision to never refuse working with newcomers, a principle he has maintained throughout his subsequent career in film and television. "After that, I made a decision that I will never refuse to work with a newcomer, and I have stuck to it," he stated, emphasizing his openness to collaborating with inexperienced talent.
Context in Bollywood casting
The incident highlights a common practice in Indian cinema where established actors sometimes avoid pairing with newcomers, citing box-office risk and chemistry concerns. Duggal's experience, though from the early 2010s, underscores how casting hierarchies have historically influenced project lineups in Bollywood.
Point of View
Where newcomers routinely face gatekeeping, Duggal's stance stands out. Whether this generosity translates to measurable impact on emerging talent remains an open question, but the intent signals a shift in how some established actors view their responsibility to the industry pipeline.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What film was Rajniesh Duggal supposed to do with Priyanka Chopra?
Rajniesh Duggal was cast opposite Priyanka Chopra in the film Yakeen early in his career. However, he was later dropped from the project.
Why was Rajniesh Duggal removed from Yakeen?
According to Duggal, he was told via a 2 am phone call that Priyanka Chopra did not wish to work with a newcomer. At that time, Duggal was still in acting school and had barely faced the camera.
Did Priyanka Chopra directly make the decision to remove Duggal?
Duggal acknowledged uncertainty about the decision's origin. He stated he does not know whether it came from Chopra herself, her manager, or the overall production team.
How did Rajniesh Duggal respond to this rejection?
Rather than harbour resentment, Duggal made a career decision to never refuse working with newcomers — a principle he has maintained throughout his subsequent work in film and television.
