Priyanka playing this role in Don 3. The rumor mill is abuzz with speculations about Priyanka Chopra Jonas joining the cast of Don 3, but the reality appears a bit distant at the moment. It's not a matter of Bollywood actively pursuing her, but rather about Priyanka's desire to engage with the industry "on her terms," one of which prominently includes pay parity.
Even the fate of Zoya Akhtar's highly anticipated Jee Le Zara, featuring Priyanka alongside Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt, seems to be hanging in the balance. Touted as a casting coup and a tale of an all-girl journey of discovery, the film faced setbacks when both Katrina and Alia announced their weddings shortly after the initial announcement, with Alia later revealing her pregnancy. Addressing the status of the film, Priyanka expressed her eagerness to return to Indian screens, stating, "I have Jee Le Zara, but between Katrina, Alia, and me, we are at the busiest phases of our lives. So, we are figuring out the right time, probably next year." However, sources suggest that the makers are struggling to meet Priyanka's remuneration demands. The actor, who disclosed receiving equal pay for the first time in 23 years for Citadel, is adamant about not settling for anything less, advocating for gender and pay parity as well as inclusivity.
Priyanka, a vocal proponent of these causes, has openly shared her struggles in Bollywood. Reflecting on her journey, she remarked, "I have made peace with it. I want to be excited when I go to work. This is something that has become most important to me as I have evolved." In her nine years in Hollywood, where she has been a presence at fashionable soirees and headlined the dystopian spy thriller Citadel, Priyanka expresses gratitude for sustaining her career as a leading lady at the age of 40. She acknowledges the challenges women in the industry face, with age often being a barrier to working with male actors.
In a previous interview, she shared, "At 30, you are classified as too old to work with male actors who could well be in their 40s, 50s, or 60s. I would have never believed then that I would start my career in Hollywood at 40 and that too as a leading lady." It seems Bollywood will have to exercise patience before its "desi girl" decides to grace its screens again.