Did you know, Aishwarya Rai wasn't the first choice to play Umrao Jaan, but Priyanka Chopra was?

Not Aishwarya Rai but Priyanka Chopra was the first to romance Abhishek Bachchan in Umrao Jaan. 

<p>In Priyanka Chopra’s memoir Unfinished, the beauty queen has spoken about her personal-professional life, her initial days in the film industry. She also mentioned many incidents that happened during her early days of struggle in Bollywood.</p>

In Priyanka Chopra’s memoir Unfinished, the beauty queen has spoken about her personal-professional life, her initial days in the film industry. She also mentioned many incidents that happened during her early days of struggle in Bollywood.

<p>A popular film journalist Subhash K Jha has recently shared a story related to Priyanka's early days struggle in Bollywood. The story is from 2006 Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan starrer Umrao Jaan.</p>

A popular film journalist Subhash K Jha has recently shared a story related to Priyanka's early days struggle in Bollywood. The story is from 2006 Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan starrer Umrao Jaan.

<p>According to Jha, when JP Dutta (Director of Umrao Jaan) was planning to remake the Rekha's Umrao Jaan (1981), he met Priyanka Chopra while looking for the lead actress of the film. It was said to be a big break for newcomer PC, and she started preparing for the same.&nbsp;</p>

According to Jha, when JP Dutta (Director of Umrao Jaan) was planning to remake the Rekha's Umrao Jaan (1981), he met Priyanka Chopra while looking for the lead actress of the film. It was said to be a big break for newcomer PC, and she started preparing for the same. 

<p>She started taking Kathak classes to play a courtesan role in mind the character and started reading about it.</p>

She started taking Kathak classes to play a courtesan role in mind the character and started reading about it.

<p>But she was replaced overnight, that time Aishwarya was known face in the industry, and she was brought on board.</p>

But she was replaced overnight, that time Aishwarya was known face in the industry, and she was brought on board.

<p>In an article published in Spotboye, Jha wrote, "I remember Priyanka’s disappointment. Her father had rung me up, asking why this happened. I had no clue. But later, Priyanka replaced Aishwarya in Rohan Sippy’s Pocketmaar and that too overnight."</p>

In an article published in Spotboye, Jha wrote, "I remember Priyanka’s disappointment. Her father had rung me up, asking why this happened. I had no clue. But later, Priyanka replaced Aishwarya in Rohan Sippy’s Pocketmaar and that too overnight."