Priyanka Chopra Reflects on "Dehumanizing" Moment Director Requested to See Her Underwear on Set

Priyanka Chopra opened up about a "dehumanizing" encounter on set.

The actress recalled a moment when she was just stepping into the world of acting that she said was both equal parts heartbreaking and distressing.

"I'm undercover, I'm seducing the guy—obviously that's what girls do when they're undercover," she said of her role during a May 23 interview with The Zoe Report. "But I'm seducing the guy and you have to take off one piece of clothing [at a time]. I wanted to layer up. The filmmaker was like, ‘No, I need to see her underwear. Otherwise why is anybody coming to watch this movie?'"

The 40-year-old noted that the director hadn't issued his command to her directly, but to the stylist in front of her. "It was such a dehumanizing moment."

Priyanka added, "It was a feeling of, ‘I'm nothing else outside of how I can be used, my art is not important, what I contribute is not important.'"

Though the experience left her questioning her worth beyond her physicality, she continued to work on the project for two more days. Eventually she chose to exit, saying she opted to repay the entire amount spent on filming rather than continuing to endure what she said was an unsettling environment. Referring to a director who she wouldn't name, she admitted, "I just couldn't look at him every day."

Previously, Priyanka has touched on another turbulent time in her career, which was when she underwent surgery to remove a polyp in her nasal cavity. She said the procedure resulted in an altered appearance and severe mental health repercussions.

The Citadel star spoke earlier this month about how she lost roles at the time, due to her changed looks and how she felt about the situation.

 

"It was a dark phase," Priyanka revealed on The Howard Stern Show on May 1. "This thing happens, and my face looks completely different, and I went into a deep, deep depression."

It was during this challenging phase that her late father, Ashok Chopra, provided unwavering support, even holding her hand during corrective surgery. 

"I was terrified of that, but he was like, ‘I will be in the room with you,'" she said. "He held my hands through it and helped me build back my confidence."

Alongside her father, Priyanka expressed gratitude to Bollywood director Anil Sharma for helping her navigate through this difficult period.

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