Shilpa Shukla wanted to play Mary Kom

But later Bhansali roped in Priyanka Chopra for the role. "A lot of my friends told me that I resemble her (Mary) and should give it a shot. I also felt deep inside that I could do it.u00a0

(Had) Messaged Sanjay Leela Bhansali about my willingness to audition for the role," Shilpa told PTI. Shilpa was that time out of the town for some work and Bhansali replied with a smiley.

"I was somewhere sure that its a huge project and they would go with a big celebrity," Shilpa said. Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, is lauded as a national hero after winning the London Olympic bronze. She belongs to Kom tribal community of North Eastern state of Manipur.u00a0