Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 25, 2015)

Priyanka Chopra won’t be joining Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone for the promotional city tours for Bajirao Mastani. Says a source from the film’s team, “Priyanka is in the US. She returns on December 8. Until then, it is ‘Bajirao’ Ranveer Singh and ‘Mastani’ Deepika all the way.” The two will be on a multi-city tour from next week. Priyanka may join them on Skype now and then.

Speaking of Skype, Priyanka’s over-the-top performance at the trailer launch from the US has not gone unnoticed by the Bajirao Mastani team.

Says a source. “PC is always larger than life, always dramatic. At the trailer launch, she said on Skype that she broke down and cried on the third day of shooting with Bhansali Sir, as she was unable to cope with the demands of the scenes. This is completely cooked up. PC’s drama at its most dramatic. She is too confident to cave in under any circumstance. From day one, she understood what the role demanded and gave exactly what was wanted.”

Apparently, Priyanka’s strategy is to downplay her achievement in Bajirao Mastani to such an extent that audiences expect nothing from her, and then surprise them with her performance.

Says the source, “She wants to be the bandh mutthi of Bajirao Mastani. Let audiences flock to see Bajirao and Mastani. But they’ll come back filled with good thoughts for Priyanka’s Kashibai as well.”