Priyanka Chopra’s “Christmas Karma” Turns WHAM!’s Classic Into a Christmas Catastrophe

There are Bollywood remixes, and then there’s whatever this was. Priyanka Chopra’s Christmas Karma has managed to do what few films can unite the internet in sheer disbelief.

Her “Desi Version” of Last Christmas yes, the beloved WHAM! classic feels less like a festive tribute and more like an emotional hostage situation. What was supposed to be warm and nostalgic now sounds like a mall remix gone rogue, complete with high-pitched autotune and misplaced Christmas cheer. The heartbreak isn’t just about the sound. For many of us, Last Christmas is more than a song; it’s a feeling that soft ache of lost love under fairy lights, the kind that plays while you stare out of a foggy window with a hot cup of chai. But the Bollywood remix stripped it of its soul and wrapped it in neon tinsel. Gone is the intimacy, replaced by a loud “fusion” that tries too hard to be global and ends up being directionless. The beats are confused, the tone inconsistent, and the charm? Missing in action. It’s like trying to make Andaaz Apna Apna meet Love Actually in a single music video and watching both crash in slow motion.

And the irony is, Priyanka Chopra is no stranger to global music. From In My City to Exotic, she’s always pushed boundaries — but Christmas Karma feels like a parody of that ambition. Maybe it’s the overproduction. Maybe it’s the misplaced confidence. Or maybe, it’s the simple truth that Last Christmas didn’t need fixing. Even the visuals add to the chaos. Between London landmarks, ghostly cameos, and “Desi Santa” energy, the film’s poster looks like a fever dream halfway between Karan Johar’s Christmas Special and a Hallmark movie on steroids. You don’t feel Christmas; you feel confusion. At the end of the day, it’s not hate — it’s heartbreak. Nobody wanted to dislike this. We wanted a spark of magic, a nod to nostalgia, something that felt like a cultural bridge. Instead, we got a loud remix that drowned out the very feeling it was meant to celebrate.

Some songs don’t need reinvention. They just need respect.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Priyanka Chopra’s “Christmas Karma” movie and why is it trending right now?

Christmas Karma is a 2025 Bollywood holiday drama directed by Gurinder Chadha, starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead role. The film has gone viral after releasing a “Desi Version” of WHAM!’s classic Last Christmas, which has received massive online backlash. The song was meant to be a festive cross-cultural experiment blending Indian instrumentation and Western pop nostalgia. However, fans found it over-produced, heavily autotuned, and emotionally disconnected from the original, making it one of the most talked-about Bollywood remakes of the year.

2. Why are fans criticizing Priyanka Chopra’s Desi version of “Last Christmas”?

Listeners have expressed disappointment because the Last Christmas (Desi Version) completely changes the soul of WHAM!’s iconic 1984 hit. The original’s charm lay in its simple melody and heartfelt melancholy, while the new version adds loud EDM beats, excessive autotune, and Bollywood-style dramatization. Many fans of both Priyanka Chopra and George Michael feel that this version disrespects the emotional purity of the original. The reaction on social media has been swift, with users calling it a “Christmas remix gone wrong” and “proof that nostalgia shouldn’t be remade for the algorithm.”

3. Did Priyanka Chopra actually sing the “Last Christmas (Desi Version)” herself or was AI used?

Yes, Priyanka Chopra recorded the vocals herself for the official soundtrack of Christmas Karma. However, the track’s production involves such a heavy layer of digital processing and vocal correction that many listeners jokingly claim it “sounds AI-generated.” The mixing and mastering style, dominated by electronic reverb and pitch correction, has blurred the natural tonal quality of her voice. This has sparked debates about whether Bollywood music is relying too much on studio enhancement instead of authentic vocals.

4. Is Priyanka Chopra’s “Christmas Karma” connected to the 2019 Hollywood movie “Last Christmas”?

No, Christmas Karma is not an official sequel or remake of the 2019 Hollywood film Last Christmas starring Emilia Clarke. However, both films draw inspiration from WHAM!’s iconic Christmas track and revolve around themes of love, loss, and redemption during the holiday season. Christmas Karma adds an Indian twist by blending Western Christmas imagery with Desi family drama, spiritual elements, and fantasy characters — a creative choice that has divided global audiences.

5. What was the intention behind Bollywood’s “Desi Version” of WHAM!’s “Last Christmas”?

According to industry insiders, the idea behind the Desi remake was to introduce a nostalgic global classic to a younger Indian audience through a fusion of Hindi and English lyrics. The goal was to blend Indian festive sounds like dhol, tabla, and sitar with pop-electronic beats to create a multicultural Christmas anthem. Unfortunately, the final product feels over-engineered, losing the emotional depth of George Michael’s original composition. Critics argue that such remakes prioritize virality over vulnerability, resulting in short-term trends instead of lasting impact.

6. Why do Bollywood remakes and global crossovers like Priyanka Chopra’s “Christmas Karma” often face backlash?

Most Bollywood remakes of Western hits, including Priyanka Chopra’s Christmas Karma, struggle because they treat emotion as spectacle. Instead of translating cultural meaning authentically, the focus often shifts to glossy visuals, high-tempo beats, and algorithm-friendly hooks. This formula works for short-form content but backfires when dealing with songs rooted in nostalgia. Fans expect sincerity and connection — not an identity crisis wrapped in studio reverb. The backlash reflects a growing fatigue with global remix culture and the audience’s desire for more original storytelling.

7. What lessons can Bollywood learn from the “Christmas Karma” and “Last Christmas” controversy?

The key takeaway from the Christmas Karma backlash is that emotion cannot be remade through production value alone. Bollywood can innovate global content successfully when it respects the emotional DNA of the original. The success of past crossovers like Jai Ho and Mundian To Bach Ke came from cultural confidence, not imitation. Priyanka Chopra’s attempt — though well-intentioned — shows that authenticity, subtlety, and restraint often matter more than global ambition in today’s emotionally aware audience landscape.

8. Where can audiences watch or listen to Priyanka Chopra’s “Christmas Karma” song and soundtrack?

The Christmas Karma soundtrack, including Last Christmas (Desi Version) sung by Priyanka Chopra, is available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and JioSaavn under Sony Soundtracks India. The official music video showcases Priyanka in a wintery London setting alongside mystical characters and festive visuals from the movie. Despite the polarizing reactions, curiosity has driven millions to stream the track — making it one of the most talked-about Bollywood releases this festive season.