Salman Khan happy for Priyanka Chopra, says she is doing India proud in Hollywood

NEW DELHI: Superstar Salman Khan today said he got to know about Priyanka's decision to leave "Bharat" quite late but congratulated her for bagging a major Hollywood project.

Director Ali Abbas Zafar had shared the news that Priyanka left "Bharat", saying the reason was "very special" and she told them about it in "Nick of time".



Soon after the announcement, there were reports that Priyanka had got engaged to American singer Nick Jonas, whom she is reportedly dating.

Days later, the actor bagged "Cowboys Ninja Vikings" opposite Hollywood star Chris Pratt.

Talking to reporters at the trailer launch of his upcoming production "Loveratri", Salman said, "I am really happy for her. If we had known that she has signed a big film in Hollywood, then we wouldn't have stopped her."

"The thing is that we got to know about it at the end moment and that too 10 days before the start of shooting. We got to know that she wants to leave film and she has gone home," he added.

Salman said when Priyanka expressed her intention to leave the Bollywood project, she gave a different reason.

"That time some other reasons were given to us. That (Priyanka's rumoured engagement to Nick) might also be the reason but this (her Hollywood project) is also a reason. Whatever reason it is, whether marriage or film or she does not want to work in India or she does not want to work with me and only Hollywood films and TV shows, it's hers."


"We are really happy and really supportive about her doing really good work. So what if she is not working here. She is making India proud," Salman said.

"If she does not want to work with Salman Khan, at least she is working with a big hero of Hollywood. So we are ok with that," he quipped.

Salman said after Priyanka left the project, they approached Katrina Kaif who agreed to do the film, despite being busy with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Zero" and Aamir Khan's "Thugs of Hindostan".


"When she told us that it is not working out for the reasons she gave us, then we straight away said 'ok. No problem. All the best' and we went for Katrina."

"Priyanka's dates were available and so we had a month. Katrina is doing 'Zero' with Shah Rukh and 'Thugs of Hindostan' with Aamir and between all this she had to get out dates for another film with me after 'Tiger Zinda Hai'," Salman said.

The 52-year-old actor said he is happy that Katrina is a part of "Bharat".


"We are really happy that she is a part of 'Bharat' because she is really hardworking and she is doing very well for herself right now. We are all thankful that she could adjust her dates," he added.

The first schedule of "Bharat", which also stars Disha Patani, wrapped today and the team will next travel to Malta for shooting.