Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta recall Pradeep Guha’s mentorship

Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Lara Dutta Bhupathi on Sunday took to their social media to pay tribute to film producer and media personality Pradeep Guha who died on Saturday. Priyanka, who calls Guha her mentor from the early days in Bollywood, wrote an emotional note for the late producer on Instagram.

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“You were always my forever champion. Your random calls of encouragement, your zest for life and your ambition was something I have always admired so much. This loss is so personal. I will miss your voice and strength so much.” 

“I’ve had very few constants in my life and outside my parents, you were one that I truly saw as my mentor. You saw something in me I never knew I had. You never shied away from reminding me on how I could be better. You always lead with charge,” read an excerpt from Chopra’s post.

The ‘Quantico actor also attached a few pictures of herself with Guha alongside the note. There’s also a video placed in the video in which, late producer Guha can be seen talking about Priyanka’s caliber and future in the glamour industry.

Guha calls Priyanka ‘lambi race ka ghoda‘ in the video and said that he knew she will make it big in the entertainment industry from the day when he saw her as a 17-year-old in the Mis World pageant.

Lara Dutta Bhupati, on the other hand, also paid respects to the late producer.

“My dearest PG, you were always the king who was the most successful ‘Queen maker’. May we, your protégés always keep your memory alive and shining bright and may you always watch over us as you have always done. RIP,” wrote Lara.

Other Bollywood celebrities to pay homage to Pradeep Guha include Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia.

Dia Mirza, who won the Miss India title with Priyanka and Lara, recalled an incident from her Miss Asia pacific days and wrote, “I will never forget that car ride as he dropped me off to the airport as I left the country to represent India at Miss Asia Pacific. “What if I lose?” I had asked him and he said “It will be their loss. You are a winner.” Those words were everything. They gave the 18-year-old me so much strength. And over the years he stood by me. Through good times and bad.”

Neha Dhupia, another pageant winner, was also mentored by Pradeep Guha. She also took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late mentor. 

Dhupia also shared a photo collage of Guha’s image alongside her from her pageant victory.

Guha’s sad demise was announced by his family on Saturday. He died at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.