It looks like the Kalpana Chawla biopic that was supposed to star Priyanka Chopra has hit a rough patch. Speculations were rife that the actress would have donned Kalpana’s role, the first woman of Indian origin in space but that seems unlikely now since Jean-Pierre Harrison, Kalpana’s husband, has apparently refused to part with the rights.

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The biopic was supposed to be made under PC’s production house, Purple Pebble Pictures and was to be helmed by Priya Mishra. The director has been working for seven years on the project and had even met BL Chawla, the late astronaut’s father in Karnal numerous times before he gave his affirmation for the project and signed the deal.

In a recent visit to Delhi, Priyanka was asked about the biopic and she who was keen on the project previously replied that she is still looking for the right script. Kalpana died when the Space Shuttle Columbia which had her aboard with other crew members disintegrated in the earth’s atmosphere while returning back from space on February 1, 2003. Her tragic death was a great loss for the country as well as the world. She was a pioneer and a role model for girls across the country. Even after 15 years of her death she is remembered as the woman who gave flight to the dreams of countless girls across the country and the world.

The biopic on Chawla isn’t likely to materialize anytime soon until Harrison, who wrote The Edge Of Time: The Authoritative Biography Of Kalpana Chawla shares the rights for the film. According to a source, “After Kalpana’s demise, all rights associated with her estate are said to have been transferred to Harrison and no one else besides him can give the permission to make the film. Even though Priya may have got the go-ahead from Kalpana’s father, it seems that alone may not be enough to make the biopic. Priyanka’s team has tried to acquire the said rights from Harrison, but apparently, he hasn’t agreed to grant them yet.”