Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; July 19, 2017)

After the success of her National Award- winning Marathi production, Ventilator (2016), Priyanka Chopra and mother, Madhu, have backed writer-director I Giridharan Swamy’s Kay Re Rascalaa. The film’s lead actor, Gaurav Ghatnekar, says as a producer, PeeCee is particular about what she wants.

“I had heard her saying, ‘whichever project is attached to my name has to be good, else it won’t come in the market.’ She is a hands-on producer. No matter where she was, she would ask to see the day’s rushes. The film was her priority even when she was working on international projects,” says the actor.

Ghatnekar adds that Chopra would often suggest changes. “She was involved, but never restricted anyone’s creativity. She suggested some changes in songs and scenes to better suit the film’s narrative. There were two songs, sung by Shaan and Sonu Nigam, which she felt needed reworking”

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 14, 2017)

While the who’s who of Bollywood is headed to New York for the 18th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, Priyanka Chopra slipped into Mumbai on Thursday morning. Considering PeeCee has made the Big Apple her home over the last two years, it’s surprising that she flew back to Mumbai at a time when the awards are happening in her backyard.

Explaining her absence from the awards gala, a source says, “With [American series] Quantico and some international films, like Isn’t It Romantic? and A Kid Like Jake in her kitty, Priyanka now considers herself a Hollywood star. She perhaps thought it best to stay away from IIFA this year.”

When mid-day got in touch with her spokesperson, she said, “Priyanka had not made any commitment to the awards show organisers, so there’s no question of her skipping it. She’s in Mumbai as her Marathi production, Kay Re Rascala, releases today. PeeCee and her mother Madhu will address the media at a Juhu five-star this evening.”

The actress is slated to leave Mumbai on Sunday, well after the awards event wraps up in New York.

The comedy went on the floors on Jan 15; blends South Indian and Maharashtrian cultures
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 18, 2017)

After seamlessly making the transition from Desi Girl to Hollywood star, Priyanka Chopra seems to have found her groove as a filmmaker too. After the Bhojpuri film Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi, Ventilator in Marathi, Sarvann in Punjabi, and the recently announced Sikkimese-Nepalese movie titled Paua (Guest), the 34-year-old actress’s second Marathi film, Kay Re Rascalaa, quietly went on the floors on January 15. It is being directed by I Giridharan who was the Director of Photography (DoP) of Marathi films like Mee Aani U (2013) and Well Done Bhalya (2016).

Kunickaa Sadanand, PeeCee’s associate producer, told Mirror that Giridharan had approached her with a role in the film. “I liked the script so much that I shared it with Madhuji, (Priyanka’s mum, Madhu Chopra) and we decided to produce it after Priyanka gave her nod. It’s an entertaining comedy which blends Maharashtrian and South Indian cultures, hence the title Kay Re Rascalaa,” she explains.

The shoot is currently underway in Mumbai and will shift to either Kolhapur or Solapur in February for the second schedule. Popular Marathi actors Supriya Pathare, Gaurav Ghatnekar, Nikhil Ratnaparkhi, Akshar Kothari, Bhagyashree Mothe, Aishwarya Sunar, Shrikant Mhase, Nihar Gite and Nagesh Bhonsle feature in the film.

Besides making a special appearance in her debut Marathi production, the Rajesh Mapuskar-directed Ventilator, Priyanka had also lent her voice to a song titled “Baba”. Will she be doing something similar for Kay Re Rascalaa? “In Ventilator there was a role which required an actress but this film doesn’t. That said, Priyanka is our lucky charm, so she will do something but what it will be will depend on her availability,” Kunickaa concludes.