Veteran producer Suneel Darshan also disclosed recently that he instructed Priyanka Chopra to get a nose correction prior to her appearing in the 2003 success Andaaz. Interviewing on Minutes of Masala, Darshan confessed that he wasn’t impressed with Priyanka at first and recommended she get the bridge of her nose refined.
He added, “Before I did Andaaz, I had told her that she must do something about the bridge of her nose.” Priyanka, he said, accepted the suggestion and quickly corrected the problem. “Her father and mother were such good doctors. It wasn’t a problem they had it corrected immediately,” he went on. Priyanka subsequently disclosed that the surgery aimed at repairing a sinus condition but unfortunately went terribly wrong, affecting her looks and early career significantly.
Priyanka’s Challenges Following the Surgery
Priyanka has since publicly discussed the failed procedure. In an interview with Howard Stern, she described being called “Plastic Chopra” and labeled the experience as “horrifying.” The surgery, intended to take out a nasal polyp, drastically changed her nose and left her questioning her career choice. She persevered in spite of the emotional blow.
Darshan was convinced of her potential. “She wasn’t conventionally pretty, but she had a commanding presence and a seductive voice,” he said. He was impressed with her persistence and foresaw that she would excel, although most of the limelight then was on her peers.
Impact of Andaaz on Her Career
Raj Kanwar directed and Darshan produced Andaaz, which featured Akshay Kumar with Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta in their debut roles. The musically rich romantic drama with a love triangle thrilled audiences at the box office. Andaaz was instrumental in launching the Bollywood career of both Priyanka and Lara.
