Anil Sharma refuses to take credit for Priyanka Chopra’s success, recalls casting her without a screen test in her debut: ‘She still has the middle-class sanskaar of a UP family’

Before becoming one of India’s most celebrated exports to Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra began her Bollywood journey under the direction of Anil Sharma. Fresh off her Miss World 2000 win, she made her acting debut in The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003) alongside Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta. The big-budget spy thriller, touted as the most expensive Indian film of its time, not only earned her an award for Best Supporting Actress but also marked the first step in a career that would turn her into a global icon. ‘It is all her hard work’In a recent interview with News18, director Anil Sharma downplayed being credited for Priyanka’s success. “It is all her hard work,” he said, before recounting how he first saw her on television when she was crowned Miss World. Impressed by her beauty, he invited her to meet him, and she arrived with her father, Dr. Ashok Chopra. Sharma recalled feeling an instant connection, noting they were based in Bareilly at the time. First role without a screen testSharma revealed that Priyanka became the first actor he ever cast without a screen test. “After talking to her, I quickly handed over the cheque. Just by speaking to her, I knew she was a performer,” he said. The filmmaker added that her dedication, along with life experiences, shaped her into the international star she is today. ‘She still has that respect for me’Reflecting on her personality beyond fame, Sharma described Priyanka as “a wonderful person” who continues to greet him warmly whenever they meet. “She doesn’t hesitate to leave her group when she spots me. She still maintains the middle-class sanskaar of a UP family. She has become such a big personality today, par use asmaan ki hawa nahi lagi,” he remarked. Despite their bond, Sharma admitted that it has been a long time since they last met, as Priyanka rarely visits India for work these days.