Priyanka Chopra’s Desi ‘Last Christmas’ Faces Backlash

Before Priyanka Chopra Jonas became a global icon with her Hollywood debut in Quantico (2015), she had already made her mark as a singer. Her first single In My City (2012), featuring American rapper will.i.am, introduced her to the global pop scene. Though it received mixed reactions, her next song Exotic with Pitbull quickly became a chartbuster, cementing her as India’s crossover pop sensation. After contributing her voice to film tracks like Mary Kom (2014) and Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Priyanka took a step back from singing to focus on acting and producing.

Now, nearly a decade later, the actress-singer has returned to the music world with a brand-new track — a desi version of the beloved Christmas classic Last Christmas. The song, part of the upcoming film Christmas Karma, has quickly taken social media by storm — though not entirely for the right reasons.

The film Christmas Karma features an ensemble cast including Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George, and is directed by British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, best known for Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Bride and Prejudice (2004). Scheduled for release on November 14, the film aims to deliver a festive multicultural message. Ahead of its premiere, the makers unveiled Priyanka’s track — Last Christmas (Desi Version) — which retains George Michael’s original melody but introduces Hindi lyrics such as “Last Christmas de diya dil.”

While Priyanka’s fans expressed excitement to see her back in the music spotlight, the online reception has been mixed to negative. Under a viral Reddit thread featuring the song, several users criticized the track for “ruining” a timeless classic. One comment read, “Butchering one of the most iconic Christmas songs ever. George Michael is rolling in his grave.” Another echoed the sentiment: “George Michael crying in his grave.”

Some netizens took issue with the translation itself, saying, “It’s 2025, for God’s sake! Can we still not write better Hindi lyrics for copied English songs?” Another user added, “Ya toh pura gaana English mai gaa lo ya toh phir Hindi mai.” Even Priyanka’s loyal fans were divided — one fan shared, “I love PC! But no amount of love can change my mind that she needs to stop singing.”

Despite the trolling, the buzz around the song has reignited discussions about Bollywood artists experimenting with Western hits and blending global and Indian sounds. Supporters of Priyanka praised her for her confidence and effort to blend languages and cultures, calling it a “bold creative move.”

Meanwhile, on the acting front, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is preparing for a grand comeback to Indian cinema. She is set to star in SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated Telugu project with superstar Mahesh Babu, tentatively titled SSMB29. The film, expected to be an action-adventure with a global theme, marks Priyanka’s return to Indian films after several years of international projects.