Ashutosh Gowariker's comments on Priyanka Chopra not deserving the Best Actress award at a recent awards function left the industry shell-shocked.After Farhan Akhtar told Ashu that his comments were in bad taste that same night, now Priyanka Chopra has found another knight in shining armour Madhur Bhandarkar, for whose film Fashion, PC got the Best Actress award.
While Farhan relayed his words personally to Gowariker, Bhandarkar is more vocal, "I'm shocked by what Ashutosh had to say. We're friends. More than us, our wives are very close friends. If he felt this way (about PC being underserving) he should've shared it with me and Priyanka, not spoilt the golden moment for her on stage. Priyanka got EVERY popular award. Doesn't that prove she deserves it?"
Madhur was shocked that the criticism came from Priyanka's own director, "He's working with Priyanka in What's Your Raashee. That makes his outburst more baffling."
While the actress has told friends that Ashu said what he felt and that she holds no grudges, she has apparently made up her mind to finish Raashee and move on quietly.
Says a source, "It's not a good time for Priyanka. Shaayad usski 'raashee' achchi nahin hai. What's Your Raashee? is the toughest role of her career. She has had to play twelve parts. It sapped her. And now after having won every single popular award for Fashion it's a shame that she was publicly told that she didn't deserve the award!
But she won't let this incident sour her mood. In fact, she jokingly told a friend she hopes to be back at the awards with Raashee."
