Meet actor who won Mr. India, made blockbuster debut, but his career was ruined after…, Priyanka Chopra refused to work with him due to…, he is…

Earlier than 1920 gave him a chilling debut and a handy book a rough 2nd in the highlight, Rajneish Duggall’s Bollywood memoir nearly started with a mighty glossier script — the 2005 romantic thriller Yakeen. Signed, prepped, and virtually ready for his big ruin opposite Priyanka Chopra, Rajneish’s debut turned into as soon as derailed sooner than the cameras could roll — and all resulting from a considerable particular person’s refusal.

Did Priyanka Chopra kill his occupation?

In a candid interview with Siddharth Kannan in May 2024, Rajneish shared the lesser-known saga in the again of his Bollywood detour and acknowledged, “I turned into as soon as the principle different for Yakeen, I turned into as soon as signed for the movie. Primarily, I turned into as soon as working on it. After I met director Girish Dhamija, he requested me, ‘When are you able to transfer to Mumbai?’ I turned into as soon as already planning to transfer to Mumbai. So, I got working against from Girish ji himself; he is an alumnus of the Nationwide Faculty of Drama and a dialect coach. They signed a 3-movie take care of me. I had a double aim in the movie with Priyanka because the lead. They put me in a penthouse at Juhu Tenth Avenue. They gave me a car and a driver. One name and a particular person would elevate meals to my flat. I turned into as soon as going to lessons and fully making ready. I ready for 2 to two and a half of months. I left brand endorsements of Siyaram, Vimal, and other corporations to pay consideration to the movie.”

However then came the twist.

He added, “, the producer, Sujit Kumar Singh, known as me to his place of job at night. He told me that Priyanka has develop into a huge considerable particular person in the length since they had signed me and they had paid her for the majority deal, now she is announcing, ‘I cannot work with a newcomer.’ My first reaction turned into as soon as that alternate the girl resulting from I handiest saw them putting money on me. I didn’t realize the movie industry in the purpose out time. They acknowledged Priyanka vital that, nonetheless I feel it could had been the managers or the americans spherical her. I don’t blame her, nonetheless she turned into as soon as mindful that I turned into as soon as doing the movie. She may bask in acknowledged, ‘No, he'll acquire it’.”

In the end, Yakeen went ahead with Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra, while Rajneish made his debut three years later in the Vikram Bhatt apprehension movie 1920. The movie turned into as soon as a shock hit, nonetheless unfortunately, it will remain his handiest predominant field place of job success.

String of flop motion footage

In the years that adopted, he appeared in a slew of underwhelming motion footage (Be Careful, Spark, Wajah Tum Ho, Laal Rang, amongst others) — none of which lived as a lot as the promise of his debut. Over time, the model-modified into-actor quietly racked up a listing of over 15 flops.

Now, Rajneish is eyeing a 2nd act on OTT, with appearances in Inspector Avinash, Video Cam Scam, and Postcards. Will digital stardom be triumphant where Bollywood stumbled? The camera’s rolling over all over again — handiest this time, no one’s announcing slice… but.