- By Swati Singh
- Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Lara Dutta recently opened up about her debut days with Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar. The duo were cast in Andaaz after winning beauty pageants in 2000. In a conversation with ATN Canada’s YouTube channel, Lara Dutta reflected on her early days in the industry and spoke about the support she received from Akshay Kumar. Recalling her debut film Andaaz, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, she shared that Akshay played a crucial role in guiding both her and Priyanka Chopra as they began their journeys.
Lara described Akshay Kumar as a friend, philosopher and guide, adding that his presence created a safe and supportive environment during their initial phase in Bollywood.
She said, "Of course I had Akshay Kumar, today who I consider a friend, philosopher, guide in the business. Just to have that environment around you where you felt protected and not exploited in any which way and people who kind of looked out for you. Even Akshay has always been extremely protective."
She further added, "Both Priyanka and I were coming in right at the same time. He saw two young girls coming in with stars in their eyes and zero guidance and direction. And he never took advantage of that. Today, I think he is such an incredibly street-smart person. He knows the business like the back of his hand, he knows what works. So, in that sense, I had a really strong springboard to take off from."
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About Andaaz: Andaaz is a Hindi romantic drama directed by Raj Kanwar and produced by Suneel Darshan. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra, marking the debut of the latter two. Shot largely in the West Indies, the film was promoted around the debut of two beauty queens, which became its key highlight.
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The music, composed by Nadeem–Shravan with lyrics by Sameer, was a major success, selling 2.5 million units and becoming one of the year’s top-selling soundtracks. Released on May 23, 2003, Andaaz performed well at the box office, earning Rs 288 million against an ₹80 million budget. It also received multiple award nominations, with Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra winning Best Female Debut at the Filmfare Awards.