Priyanka Chopra’s mother said the actress is still in touch with Lara Dutta and they share a good friendship.
Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta.
When Priyanka Chopra was competing for the title of Miss World, she was clear about the things she would and wouldn’t do in the pageant. As such, she refused to wear a bikini in the swimwear segment and maintained her dignity while expressing her objection. She also became close friends with Lara Dutta, who taught her how to walk the ramp and do her makeup.
“Priyanka ka behaviour, uska conduct, kahin bhi… dekho swimwear mein bhi, they said, ‘Two piece pehno.’ (Priyanka’s behaviour and conduct have always been on point, everywhere. Even during the swimwear competition in the Miss World pageant, the organisers said, ‘Wear a two-piece.’) She said, ‘Na.’ So, she maintained her dignity with professionalism. Ye nahi ki tantrum… (She didn’t throw tantrums). So they actually respected her aise kehne ke liye (for doing that),” Priyanka Chopra’s mother, Madhu Chopra, shared with Lehren Retro.
Madhu Chopra also recalled how Lara Dutta helped Priyanka during the competition. “Lara taught her how to drape, Lara taught her how to walk, Lara taught her how to apply make-up on her own. Because they had to do it all by themselves. Priyanka toh kuchh nahi karti thi, sirf kajal (Priyanka didn’t do any of this, except put kajal). So Lara is another high-quality person,” Madhu said.
Appearing on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal several years ago, Priyanka said that she and Dia Mirza called Lara “mom” for helping them. During Lara’s appearance on the show, she said, “For me, winning Miss India and Miss Universe was my primary focus. However, without sounding morbid, once you’re gone, your achievements won’t really matter. Life offers very few moments when you can make a positive impact on someone else’s life, and those moments define life for me. If I can’t be there for others, then I am not truly living, and I don’t want any of it because that is what’s most important to me.”
Interestingly, Lara and Priyanka made their Bollywood debuts together with the 2003 film Andaaz, also starring Akshay Kumar.
