Globally acclaimed filmmaker Gurinder Chadha is gearing up for the India release of her latest movie, The Christmas Karna, on December 12. In a recent conversation, she shared her excitement about bringing global superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas on board for a special song in the film.
Collaboration with Priyanka Chopra
Speaking about her collaboration with Priyanka, Gurinder said, “I called Priyanka, whom I have known for a long time. PeeCee is a great supporter of everyone in the diaspora, all of us doing our own thing, and she is always there to support us. Except this time, she said, ‘No, I can’t do this. I am not a singer. Are you mad?’”
Gurinder clarified her enthusiasm to Priyanka, stating, “It will be so much fun! It’s for the end titles. You know how I do things at the end, with full ‘Tamasha’ — it’ll be fun. My dog will be there, and we will just have a great time.” Eventually, Priyanka agreed, saying, “Okay, it sounds like fun.” After joining Gurinder in the studio in London, she laughed and commented, “You’re mad, but let’s do it.” Priyanka even took time to correct some of the Hindi lyrics and delivered a beautiful performance.
Anushka Shankar’s Involvement
In addition to Priyanka, Gurinder reached out to the internationally acclaimed sitar player Anushka Shankar. “I called Anushka Shankar, who is also a friend, and said, ‘Come and play with us.’ Anushka came as well and said, ‘You’re mad, but I’ll support you.’ She played a beautiful sitar version of ‘Last Christmas.’”
For those unfamiliar, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has infused a desi flavor into the classic Wham! song ‘Last Christmas’. Reflecting on this collaboration, she remarked, “Gurinder Chadha has been one of the very few stalwarts in entertainment that has championed stories of the Indian diaspora globally and consistently with absolute authenticity and heart.” She expressed her joy in supporting Gurinder, stating, “I hope this desi twist to a song that has long been the soundtrack of Christmas for so many of us resonates with audiences.”
About Christmas Karma
Christmas Karma is a festive, fresh, and feel-good musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. The film features Kunal Nayyar from The Big Bang Theory in the lead role, alongside notable actors such as Leo Suter, Pixie Lott, Charithra Chandran, Danny Dyer, and Hugh Bonneville.