By Dharmesh Prajapati

Before social media and paparazzi culture dominated Bollywood, one actress quietly rose to fame with her charm, screen presence and performances in some of the most memorable films of the late ’90s and early 2000s. She became an overnight sensation after starring in a blockbuster romantic drama, worked alongside superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, and was often admired for her striking beauty, with many comparing her to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during the peak of her career. However, despite appearing in several successful films and enjoying immense popularity, she eventually stepped away from the spotlight and disappeared from the industry. The actress in question is Priya Gill.

When people talk about the most beautiful actresses of the ’90s, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is often the first name that comes to mind. However, there was Priya Gill during that era who was frequently compared to Aishwarya for her striking looks and graceful screen presence. Interestingly, both actresses began their journeys in the entertainment industry around the same time, but while Aishwarya went on to become a global superstar, Priya struggled to maintain her foothold in Bollywood as her career gradually faded over the years.

Priya stepped into Bollywood with Tere Mere Sapne in 1996, sharing screen space with Arshad Warsi and Chandrachur Singh. Produced under Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd., the film introduced several fresh faces to the industry, and Priya quickly caught attention for her beauty and charming screen presence. While her debut gave her visibility in Bollywood, it was her performance in Sirf Tum that truly brought her widespread recognition. Starring alongside Sanjay Kapoor, the romantic drama emerged as a major box office success and became one of the most loved love stories of its time. The film’s songs, emotional storyline and Priya’s innocent on-screen persona resonated strongly with audiences, turning her into a popular face in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Following the success of Sirf Tum, Priya went on to star in Josh alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Her appearance in the film further fuelled comparisons with Aishwarya, as many viewers admired Priya’s striking beauty and elegant screen presence during that phase of her career. Over the years, Priya shared screen space with several leading stars and became part of several memorable films. However, despite working with some of Bollywood’s biggest names, there was one particular incident from her acting journey that she later described as “the most embarrassing thing” she had ever done in her entire film career.

In her interview with Lehren, she revealed details about slapping SRK on the sets of Josh. In a scene for Josh, Priya was instructed to slap Shah Rukh Khan. Recalling the shot, she said, “I had to slap him, in the song, at the beginning of the song. We were doing this repeated, repeated thing in Goa. And Mansoor kept telling me, ‘Priya, it’s not coming with the kind of force that the girl is mad at him.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, okay,’ and I kept trying, you know. And Shah Rukh said, ‘You hit me… hit me.’ And Mansoor said, ‘Hit him, hit him,’ you know? I had to punch him. I couldn’t help it. Oh my gosh, I’ll never forget that.”

She further revealed how the slap affected everyone on set. She added, “I think there was complete silence. Everybody just… the camera kept rolling. I think the director forgot to say cut because of the reaction. I remember KV, the cameraman, telling me, ‘Girls are going to hate you because you hit Shah Rukh.’ I think he was really sweet about it because after that, he was explaining to me how it should be done right, and I didn’t know what to say. After that, the song starts. So imagine how much tension I felt, and how cool he was about the whole thing.”

Despite being frequently compared to Aishwarya and delivering a few successful films at the box office, Priya was unable to fully capitalise on the momentum of her early success. While she remained a familiar face in Bollywood for a few years, several of her later projects failed to leave a mark commercially, gradually affecting the trajectory of her career. After facing a string of flop films, Priya eventually stepped away from the industry and quit acting in 2006, choosing to lead a life away from the spotlight.

For nearly two decades now, Priya Gill has stayed completely away from the limelight and has largely maintained a private life. According to media reports, the former actress is now reportedly settled in Denmark, where she is said to be happily married and enjoying a peaceful life far removed from the glamour of Bollywood.