EXCLUSIVE: Pragya Jaiswal recalls auditioning for Akshay Kumar starrer Gabbar Is Back; admits, “I was never really supposed to work with him”

Actress Pragya Jaiswal needs no introduction. The actress – who predominantly works in Telugu films and was recently seen in the ensemble comedy-drama Khel Khel Mein, sat down with Bollywood Bubble for a candid conversation about her life and career.

During the exclusive chat, the actress – who has also been in films such as Virattu, Kanche, Titoo MBA. Nakshatram, Achari America Yatra, Akhanda and more, got candid about auditioning for the Akshay Kumar-led vigilante action, Gabbar Is Back, not making it to the final rounds and if she regrets losing films. Read on to know all she shared.

Pragya Jaiswal on auditioning for Gabbar Is Back

When asked about whether she actually had an opportunity to work with Akshay Kumar on a Hindi movie years ago, Pragya Jaiswal said, “Woh actually bahut preliminary stage pe hi nahi hua. We can’t take that seriously. Maine shayad bahut starting mein kissi interview mein bola hoga around the time my debut Telugu film was released. That time I got chosen for the Telugu film because I auditioned for a Hindi film here in Bombay joh Akshay sir ke saath ek Telugu director banne rahe the Krish sir.”

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She continued, “Woh film director Akshay sir ke saath kar rahe the toh maine uss film ka audition kiya jisne mein shortlist hui thi When I got shortlisted for that film, obviously, the director and everybody had met me and we did look tests and all that but later it didn’t work. But then I ended up doing a Telugu film with the same director because he liked me a lot in this audition. So that’s how it happened. But woh film mein (the Hindi flick with Akshay), mera kuch final nahi hua tha.”

She added, “Maine sirf ek audition kiya, I was never really supposed to work with him. I just auditioned for a film with him. But I think in some strange, beautiful way, life does come around in a full circle. Uss waqt mujhe lagta tha ki shayad yeh film hone wali hai and I’m going to work with Akshay sir and then after so many years it’s with him. So it’s a lovely coincidence.” When asked if the film was indeed Gabbar Is Back, the actress nodded her head and said, “Yes.”

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Pragya on regrets & rejections

Talking about whether she’s hurt about auditioning for several films but not getting the parts, Pragya Jaiswal says, “I’m not somebody who dwells on something that didn’t work for me. I’m not at all like that. In this industry, if you have to survive and be happy, you really can’t be sitting with rejections saying, ‘Kash yeh ho jaata tha ya main badi dhukhi hu, parmesan hu as it didn’t work out.’ I’m not that girl at all. If it worked out fantastic, if it didn’t work out it’s for my best – I truly believe in that. So I have no regrets.”

She added, “Till you make a start, you aren’t really considered for films. It’s only when you start (working) that people take your profession a bit more seriously. So, I don’t think there have been a lot of regrets like that but there have been a lot of rejections – but that’s part and parcel of an actor’s life.”

Watch Pragya Jaiswal’s full interview here:

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