When Priyanka Chopra made a sudden exit from Ali Abbas Zafar's Salman Bharat with Salman Khan as the male lead, it was Katrina Kaif who came to rescue and replaced Priyanka Chopra as film’s leading lady. Katrina’ sweet gesture sure made Ali emotional as he recalls their bond. The filmmaker feels really obliged to Katrina. Ali and Katrina goes long back. Katrina is very good friend of Ali and she was the leading lady of Ali Abbas Zafar's directorial debut Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. When Ali needed her the most, she came in his support.
Talking about Katrina's support, Ali said to a leading daily, "I do owe a lot to Katrina. When you make a tent-pole film like this, which everyone talks about, there is a lot of pressure that’s riding on you and you will make that film only once in your life. Considering that, the decisions have to be unemotional. Often, emotional decisions can backfire. I have taken the decision of roping in Katrina unemotionally. Luckily, Katrina’s dates were also available. Obviously, the schedule is going to change a lot. She also has two other films in her kitty, but we will work around that."
It must have been an awkward moment for Ali when he must have approached Katrina for the film for a script that was initially written for Priyanka Chopra. To this, Ali said, "Maturity and time also teach you a lot of things. Sometimes, you have to keep your ego aside. It is not a show where people are coming first or second. It’s important to enjoy the process.  In Bharat, the character does justice to Katrina’s presence, and that is why I think she has chosen to do the film. We have been close friends and even in the past, I have told her that if she doesn’t like a film that I have offered her, she can always choose to say no. Our friendship does not come in the way of our professional relationship. And she has said ‘no’ to me a couple of times. We work on many scripts, more than the ones that actually are made into films. I have offered Katrina many roles between the time that I made Gunday and Tiger Zinda Hai and she’s said ‘no’ to a lot of those roles. There is nothing wrong with an actor refusing a role you’ve offered them because they might not share the same passion when it comes to the story. I keep my emotions on the back foot when it comes to my profession. Tomorrow if a superstar, male or female says no to me, I won’t take it to heart." More on: Ali Abbas Zafar, Katrina Kaif, Bharat

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