Alia Bhatt looks like me when I was young, says Ma Anand Sheela: ‘I wasn’t happy when Priyanka Chopra announced she wants to play me’

It was in 2019 that Priyanka Chopra declared that she would be interested in playing the role of Ma Anand Sheela. This came shortly after the release of the documentary series Wild Wild Country which turned Sheela into a pop-culture figure despite the fact that Sheela and other members of Rajneeshpuram had tried to spread salmonella in a neighbouring city, and she was seen as the mastermind who weaponised the commune with arms. Around the same time, Shakun Batra had shared that he might be making a film on her and it was rumoured that Alia Bhatt might be playing the lead role. While none of these projects actually happened, Sheela shared in a recent interview that she was keen on seeing Alia play her on screen. She also shared that she was upset with Priyanka.

In a chat with Pinkvilla, Sheela said, “Shakun Batra was going to make a film on me but it has not happened because of the financing. They cannot find financiers for it. Before I had chosen Alia, and now there is no money in it so I don’t know.” Speaking about her anger towards Priyanka, she said, “She announced she wanted to play Sheela part, but she had not asked me. That was the problem and I wasn’t happy. One should ask before making public announcements. They need to take approval.”

ALSO READ | Rajesh Khanna might mistreat you because you were cast against his wishes, Raza Murad recalls warning: ‘Upar aaka, neeche Kaka’

Story continues below this ad

Sheela, who has expressed her disappointment in Priyanka previously as well, said that now, all of this doesn’t matter to her anymore. “Today, it doesn’t matter, Priyanka can play my part”, she said. When asked why was she eager for Alia to play her part, Sheela said it was because she felt that they look alike. She said, “I have never seen Bollywood films. I have not seen Priyanka’s work. I have watched one of Alia Bhatt’s film because of my sister and when I looked at her, I was surprised. I said, ‘She looks like me when I was young.’ Then I called Shakun and asked him if this was possible. I don’t even know which film it was.”

None of the projects announced on her has been made yet, neither have there been any official updates on the same.