Priyanka Chopra admits that Mary Kom should have played ‘someone from the Northeast’: ‘I was just greedy’

Priyanka Chopra recently admitted in an interview that the role of Mary Kom should have been played by ‘somebody from the Northeast’. Directed by Omung Kumar, the 2014 film was based on the life of the ace Indian boxer, in which Priyanka played the role of Mary Kom. The film also starred Darshan Kumar as Mary’s husband.

The film received criticism over Priyanka’s casting, with many pointing out that an actor from the Northeast should have been included. Some even called the decision to cast Priyanka as a Northeast actor ‘racist’. Priyanka now seems to agree with popular opinion. She said that she has become greedy as an actor.

“When I took on the role of Mary Kom, initially I was very skeptical of taking it up as she was a living, breathing icon and she made room for many female athletes. Besides, I look nothing like him. She comes from North East of India and I am from North India and we didn’t look alike physically. In the end, the part might have gone to someone from the North-East. But I was just greedy to get a chance to tell her story as an actor, because she inspired me so much as a woman, as an Indian woman, as an athlete. When the filmmakers insisted that I do it, I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to do it,'” she said while speaking with Vanity Fair.