Veteran actor Annu Kapoor has opened up about an awkward moment he faced while working with Priyanka Chopra in the 2011 film 7 Khoon Maaf. In a candid chat on the ANI podcast, Kapoor shared that Priyanka was hesitant to film an on-screen kiss with him, and hinted that her discomfort may have stemmed from the fact that he wasn’t the film’s leading hero.
Kapoor, known for his nuanced performances, recalled how the situation unfolded on set. “Vishal Bhardwaj [the director] told me she was feeling shy about the scene,” Annu shared. The actor, being professional about it, suggested an easy fix: “I told him, ‘If she’s uncomfortable, let’s remove the scene.’ But Vishal said, ‘Why should I? It’s important for the story.’”
While the scene ultimately stayed, it left Kapoor musing over the double standards that actors sometimes face based on their physical appeal or stature in the film industry. In his typical blunt style, he said, “Mujhe to pata nahi usne kya kaha kya nahi kaha, lekin simple si baat hai ki agar market me charcha ho rahi hai, news ban rahi hai, to seedhi baat hai ki agar mai hero hota to Priyanka Chopra ko koi apatti nahi hoti. Hero ko chumne me kisiko apatti nahi hoti. Wo to mai hoon, na shakal hai na surat hai na personality, islie problem hai.” (If the thing became such a big talking point among fans and media, then it is obvious that if I were a hero, she might have agreed to do the scene as an actress doesn’t hesitate to kiss the film’s hero. Maybe I lack the looks and personality for the same)
The actor was quick to dismiss any personal resentment, instead pointing out the realities of the industry. “I’m not someone who jokes around on set. I take my work seriously, and even the assistants were impressed with how I handled my solo shots. But it’s clear—if I had been the conventional ‘hero,’ things might have been different.”
Kapoor also addressed an old comment Priyanka made publicly, refusing to shoot intimate scenes with him. “She was upset, and I still don’t know why,” Kapoor added, hinting that perhaps his lack of “hero-like” attributes was the underlying issue.
