Lara Once Turned Down 'Matrix' to Take Care of Ailing Mother

The former Miss Universe Lara Dutta stunned everyone with her performance in her last release Bell Bottom. The actress looked unrecognisable as the former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, in this Akshay Kumar movie. The viewers lauded her performance and touted it to be one of Lara’s best performances.

Lara Dutta made us proud on the international platform when she was crowned Miss Universe in the year 2000. But did you know that the Partner actress was offered a role in the popular movie franchise The Matrix years back, but she had to turn down the role?

During a conversation with Hindustan Times, Lara opened up on why she had to turn down a role in Keanu Reeves’ The Matrix movie franchise. She revealed that it was a tough time for her as her mother was unwell.

When questioned about why she rejected the role in The Matrix, Lara was quoted saying by the publication, “It was a tough time. I had not even started out in Bollywood. But I was very clear about what I wanted in life. Everything else came second, I just had to be with my mother at the time. I did not even think twice and came back to India. And, it wasn’t like I came here thinking we have Bollywood (as a backup, since I gave up on a huge Hollywood opportunity). I just had to be with my mother at the time since she was unwell, extremely unwell. Therefore I did not even think twice and came back to India.”

In Bollywood, Lara has featured in movies like No Entry, Bhagam Bhag, Billu, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and others. She was last seen starring in Akshay Kumar’s Bell Bottom and in the web series Kaun Banegi Shikharwati alongside Naseeruddin Shah, Raghubir Yadav, Soha Ali Khan, Kritika Kamra and Anya Singh.