Priyanka Chopra to star in a new comedy with Zac Efron and Will Ferrell for Amazon MGM
The untitled film, directed by Forgetting Sarah Marshall creator Nicholas Stoller, adds Priyanka to a star-packed cast including Regina Hall and Michael Peña.
Priyanka Chopra and Zac Efron reunite for a new Hollywood comedy directed by Nicholas Stoller, nearly eight years after Baywatch
Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Priyanka Chopra is returning to the big screen in a new Hollywood comedy, where she will share the screen once again with Zac Efron, her Baywatch co-star from 2017. The film, backed by Amazon MGM Studios, is being directed and written by Nicholas Stoller, best known for comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
Zac Efron was confirmed for the project earlier this year, but Priyanka’s involvement, officially announced now, adds another major name to the star-studded cast, with Will Ferrell, Michael Peña, Regina Hall, Jimmy Tatro, and Billy Eichner rounding out the ensemble. Ferrell is also co-producing the film through his banner Gloria Sanchez Productions, alongside Stoller’s Stoller Global Solutions.
With projects like Heads of State, The Bluff, and now this comedy, Priyanka continues her Hollywood streakGetty Images
The untitled film, previously referred to as Judgment Day, revolves around a young man recently released from prison, played by Efron, who storms an unscripted TV courtroom show, blaming the judge, played by Ferrell, for ruining his life. It is expected to mix absurdity with a lot of sharp humour. Priyanka’s role, however, remains undisclosed for now, adding further curiosity around the film.
This also marks Priyanka's second collaboration with Stoller’s team after Citadel, where she played a spy opposite Richard Madden. She’s been steadily expanding her Hollywood footprint with upcoming roles in Heads of State with Idris Elba and John Cena, and The Bluff, where she plays a 19th-century Caribbean pirate.
Zac Efron will play a recently released convict who hijacks a TV courtroom in the upcoming filmGetty Images
Back home, Priyanka recently wrapped a schedule of SS Rajamouli’s action-adventure film, tentatively titled SSMB 29, which stars Mahesh Babu. Though not officially confirmed, reports suggest she might be playing the antagonist.
As one of the few South Asian stars to successfully transition between Indian and international cinema, Priyanka has managed to pick projects that mix commercial appeal with strong industry collaborations. This latest comedy might just be another clever move; reuniting with a popular co-star, joining a crowd-pleasing genre, and keeping her momentum going on both sides of the globe.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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