The new romantic comedy-drama Love Again, starring Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughen, premiered in theaters across the US on Friday.
If fans start getting their first look at the rom-com, they’ll soon discover that Chopra’s real-life husband, Nick Jonas, actually makes a cameo, in a belated addition to the cast.
In the film, the actress plays a woman who just returns to the dating pool after losing someone she loved dearly. But before she shares a spark with Heughen, who plays Rob Burns, her character Mira Ray has to endure one of those unfortunate dates with Jonas.
In an interview with Weekly entertainment, the actress revealed how Mira’s date was supposed to lick her face, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that actor would have had to wait in quarantine at the time of the shoot before filming his scene.
“They were going to cast a random actor who ended up having to lick my face during COVID, which meant being quarantined for 14 days and sitting in a hotel room waiting to lick my face. It was just awful,” she explained.
The perfect choice: Priyanka Chopra, 40, revealed why her husband Nick Jonas, 30, was a late addition to the cast of her new rom-com Love Again
The 40-year-old Chopra went on to explain how the Jonas Brothers star was the perfect choice to lick her face since he had already been quarantined with her.
“Nick came to help me settle in, and our director Jim (known professionally as James C. Strouse) had the bright idea. He was like, “Do you think Nick would consider this?” And I was like, ‘Yes. Yes, please!'” she recalled.
The resident of Jamshedpur, Bihar (present-day Jharkhand), India went on to share how her husband actually saved the day on set.
“So Nick took one for the team and was extremely kind and nice,” she added. “He turned out to be so funny. It was so hard for me to pretend to be embarrassed or mad at him because I just couldn’t stop laughing.”
All that laughter made for a fun time on set, leading up to the shoot for their not-so-great date.
“There was one time when Nick said or did something, and we were in the cab, and the crew outside was laughing out loud that we had to do another take,” she recalls their time working together.
Love Again, written and directed by Strouse, 46, is an English-language remake of the 2016 German film MS für Dich, which in turn is based on a novel by Sofie Cramer.
The story follows Mira Ray (Chopra), as she struggles with the death of her fiancé, who inadvertently sends a series of romantic messages to his old cell phone number.
Post COVID: Love Again, written and directed by James C. Strouse, was shot during the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant many new health rules and restrictions
How Nick Scored the Role: During the shoot, the director asked Chopra if she thought her husband, Nick Jonas, would consider playing the role of a man who has a bad date with her, including licking her face: Yes. Yes, please!” she recalled of the idea
Saves the day: Nick Jonas was asked to play the role of a bad date, who licks his real wife’s face, to avoid hiring a random actor who should have been quarantined for 14 days
“Mission accomplished: So Nick took one for the team and was extremely kind and nice,” Chopra said. “He turned out to be so funny. It was so hard for me to pretend to be embarrassed or mad at him because I just couldn’t stop laughing.”
Chemistry: Outlander star Sam Heughen, 43, plays Rob Burns, the eventual love interest of Chopra’s character, Mira Ray
Debut: Celine Dion, 55, plays a fictionalized version of herself, in what is her first film role
It turns out that an old phone number has since been given to Rob Burns, for his job as a journalist.
Rob is drawn to the candor in Mira’s beautifully written lyrics and tries to find a way to meet Mira in real life to win her over. her.
The real life Celine Dion, 55, portrays a fictionalized version of herself, in what is her very first film role.
The cast also includes Russell Tovey, Steve Oram, Omid Djalili, Sofia Barclay, Lydia West, Arinzé Kene, and of course Nick Jonas, in his memorable awkward date scenes.
On Friday, the day of the film’s premiere at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City, Chopra took to her Instagram page and shared a few photos of herself along with family members who were on hand to show their support.
‘Family.. to everyone who came to support. I love you.. without you nothing is possible. @loveagainmovie #afterparty @sonanewyork,” she gushed in the caption of the post featuring Chopra, Nick Jonas, his older brother Kevin Jonas, his wife Danielle Jonas, as well as the mothers of both Nick and Priyanka.
Family Support: Chopra shared on Instagram some family photos taken during the film’s premiere at New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square on Friday; Chopra and Nick Jonas are pictured with his older brother Kevin Jonas, his wife Danielle Jonas, as well as the mothers of both Nick and Priyanka
Going strong: The couple has been married for over four years
Promo Mod: The actress shared images of the cast as part of her promotional push
High praise: the lead actors were both delighted with the experience of filming Love Again
Out now: Love Again is now in theaters in the US after its debut on Friday
Promo push: Chopra also shared a clip titled ‘5 Reason to see Love Again’
She also shared some behind-the-scenes photos she took during the filming of the movie in another Instagram post on Friday.
Best time with the best people. @loveagainmovie In the cinema today!!’ wrote the actress when plugging in the film’s premiere on Friday.
In another promotional campaign for the production, the mother of one of them posted a video titled “5 Reasons to See Love Again.”
The time to love again is NOW! @loveagainmovie in US theaters today!! Now go check it out,” she shared in the caption.
Priyanka and Nick Jonas have been married for over four years and are the proud parents of 16-month-old daughter Malti, who arrived with the help of a surrogate.
Love Again is now playing in theaters across the United States.