Priyanka Chopra Jonas took to Instagram on August 9 to share a heartfelt throwback to her time working on Barfi! (2012), revealing behind-the-scenes moments, personal challenges, and the creative process that went into bringing her beloved character, Jhilmil, to life.
Priyanka Chopra recalls how she almost lost Barfi! role: “Anurag Basu couldn’t imagine me as Jhilmil”
From Doubt to Determination
Priyanka revealed that she first heard about Barfi! in January 2009 while filming Anjaana Anjaani in New York with co-star Ranbir Kapoor. “He mentioned his next, Barfi! with Anurag Basu, a filmmaker I admired. So when Sir offered me Jhilmil, I was thrilled,” she wrote.
However, their first meeting didn’t go as expected. “I’d just returned from an event, dressed to the nines. He took one look and said he couldn’t imagine me as Jhilmil. I understood; I didn’t want to mess it up either,” Priyanka recalled. The two agreed on a five-day workshop to explore the role further.
Workshops, Research, and Breaking Comfort Zones
Priyanka immersed herself in extensive research, meeting children on the autism spectrum, watching videos, and engaging in unique acting exercises in Basu’s Aram Nagar office. One memorable drill involved her hurling Hindi expletives at the director — something she initially found mortifying but later described as “hilarious, liberating, and a push out of my comfort zone.”
Improvisation and Cherished Memories
Many of Jhilmil’s scenes, Priyanka revealed, were improvised based on ideas shared by Anurag Basu on set. She also shared that Barfi! was one of the last projects her father visited her on, adding an emotional significance to the film. “Barfi! remains one of my most treasured films — for the creativity, the crew, and the joy of shared challenges,” she wrote.
Celebrating the Team
In her post, Priyanka praised Ravi Varman’s “pure poetry” in cinematography, Ileana D’Cruz’s grace as Shruti, and Ranbir Kapoor’s “star power.” She called Anurag Basu “brilliant, gentle, playful” and described his storytelling as “magic.”
An Uncertain Journey With an Overwhelming Response
The film was shot over two years with breaks, and the cast and crew were unsure how audiences would respond. “They did beyond our dreams,” Priyanka wrote, adding that the love for Jhilmil “has stayed with me ever since.”
She ended her post on a reflective note, asking fans, “On this nostalgic Saturday, I felt like sharing. What are you reminiscing about these days?”
Also Read: Inside Priyanka Chopra’s heartwarming Hyderabad diaries with daughter Malti Marie
More Pages: Barfi! Box Office Collection
, Barfi! Movie Review
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