Filmmaker Suneel Darshan once again commented on the rumoured affair between Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar, which soured his relationship with the star. He’d worked with Akshay on seven films in seven years, but they parted ways as Akshay’s career reached new heights. He said in an interview that they haven’t spoken in two decades, as he recalled his rumoured affair with Priyanka Chopra. This isn’t the first time that he has commented on the matter; he previously went so far as to suggest that Akshay’s wife, Twinkle Khanna, put her foot down and barred him from working with Priyanka.
In a new interview with Bollywood Bubble, Suneel Darshan said that he’d actually commenced production on the film Barsaat, and had filmed a song with Akshay and Priyanka before things turned upside down. “There was turbulence in his personal life after a point. He told me that there were some personal issues, and asked if the film could be made with only one of them. I feel all actors should be responsible, and married men should be even more responsible. But it is man’s nature to make mistakes. And it is destined for producers to bear the brunt of their mistakes. I don’t want to put the onus of responsibility for that ‘haadsa’ on Priyanka…”
In an earlier interview with Friday Talkies, Suneel had said, “Kuch blunder aise ho chuke thay (He did some blunders). Some rumours about Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar started doing the rounds and Twinkle had left his home. As an actor you have to be responsible. If your wife has been an actress, she knows everything about the industry and she has also worked with all the big stars. She knew everything.” Suneel clarified that he did not hold Priyanka responsible for the situation, adding, “I don’t blame Priyanka Chopra for this. She was doing what was in her own interest.”
In another interview with Vickey Lalwani, he said, “It’s not about him not wanting to work with Priyanka Chopra. Circumstances had reached a point… The public, the media did mention a relationship, which the wife got to know of. But suddenly, after making me wait for 18 months, to say that I can’t be a part of the film, I was shocked… He did want to compensate by saying he’d do the next film with me, but I just thought it was unbelievable, coming from Akshay.”
Akshay and Priyanka worked together on the films Andaaz, Aitraaz, and Waqt: The Race Against Time. In a recent interview, Priyanka made a rare comment about Akshay, and praised his action chops.
