Priyanka Chopra was reportedly caught flouting UK lockdown rules after visiting a posh hair salon in London – however, reps have said the actress was permitted to do so for work reasons.
The 38-year-old actress currently lives in London with her husband Nick Jonas, and on Wednesday evening, she was pictured visiting the Josh Wood Colour salon in Notting Hill.
In pictures acquired by Mail Online, Priyanka was accompanied by her mother Madhu and her dog Diana as she visited the salon at around 4.55pm.
Celebrity stylist Josh Wood, who often does Priyanka’s hair, was also in attendance.
Police were seen arriving at the salon, and appeared to order the customers out of the salon, according to the publication.
Priyanka reportedly left the salon with a bag of Josh Wood goodies.
The Hollywood star’s representative told Metro.co.uk: ‘Following government guidance, Priyanka’s hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London.
‘The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations.
‘As I am sure you are aware, Film and TV production is permitted to continue in the UK, and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces that are carried out in-line with government guidelines.
‘The exemption paperwork legally permitting here to be there was provided to the police, and they left satisfied.’
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police also told Metro.co.uk: ‘Police were alerted at around 17:40hrs on Wednesday, 6 January to reports of a Covid breach taking place within a hairdressers on Lansdowne Mews, Notting Hill.
‘Officers attended and the owner of the salon was given a verbal reminder of the important need to comply with all regulations regarding Covid-19 and signposted to other sources of advice.
‘No fixed penalty notices were issued.’
The salon was seemingly in breach of new lockdown regulations, which require ‘personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons’ to close.
The Government website also reads: ‘Tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close. These services should not be provided in other people’s homes.’
Wood dodged a £10,000 fine for opening during lockdown, after the rules came into effect on Monday.
A message posted to the salon’s website nearly three weeks ago confirmed its temporary closure, reading: ‘Following the government update we will be closing the Atelier from the end of Sat Dec 19th.
‘In line with our lockdown promise, we will proactively offer alternative dates and the option of refunds for affected appointments within 7 working days of your planned appointment. You will not need to contact us. Please bear with us if your appointment was due before Christmas as this could take a few extra days to arrange.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure the Atelier is a safe environment for our Josh Wood Colour family when we reopen. Stay safe, enjoy the holidays, look after each other and we look forward to welcoming you back to the atelier soon.’
Stricter rules have been brought into effect as cases of Covid-19 and the pandemic death toll rise, with hospitals struggling with the strain.
People have been told that they must not leave their home unless they have a ‘reasonable excuse’, and can be slapped with a fixed penalty notice of £200 for the first offence – doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400 – if they are outside without a reasonable excuse.
Reasonable excuses include work, volunteering, education, childcare, exercise, medical reasons, giving care, maternity, escaping harm, communal worship and ‘essential services’, including buying things at shops or obtaining services.
Priyanka resides in London while she is filming her upcoming movie Text For You, about a grieving young woman who sends texts to her late partner’s old phone number, which has been reassigned to another man.
Text For You also stars Sam Heughan, Celine Dion, Russell Tovey and Omid Djalili, and is an English remake of the German film SMS Fur Dich.
Back in December, Priyanka shared a picture of herself on set wearing a face shield, and wrote on Instagram: ‘What shooting a movie looks like in 2020. Daily testing, face shields, and masks on hand.
‘This was taken after hair and makeup where we wait right before we shoot, in a secure distanced zone …And masks on…in between all shots!! Staying safe is part of getting the job done✌️protect yourself and everyone around you. Stay positive! test negative!’
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Chopra and Wood for comment.
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-- to metro.co.uk
