There have been rumors for years that Archie Panjabi, who plays Kalinda on The Good Wife, and Julianna Margulies, who plays the show’s titular character, have gripes with one another so insurmountable they haven’t shot scenes together for several seasons. The issue was apparently so large that the pair recently shot their characters’ final scene on the show together separately. And Panjabi isn’t denying it.
After the episode aired, speculation abounded that the women were not in the same room for the scene (which you can watch above) — speculation that was confirmed by TV writer Michael Ausiello at TVLine, who wrote:
Margulies and Panjabi did not shoot that scene together, I have come to learn. Body doubles were employed for the single shots, and the two-shot was spliced together in post-production.
Margulies and Panjabi have both been silent on whatever their issues are, though it’s generally accepted that Margulies has the problem with Panjabi (jealousy has been thrown about) and, as a producer on the show, stopped them from shooting together. When pressed, TheGood Wife show creators Robert and Michelle King have been vague on the topic. But now, in an interview with Us Weekly, Panjabi said:
“You know, I can’t answer that,” she replied, when Us asked whether the final scene was shot in person with Margulies. “It’s not fair for me to answer those decisions. As much as I want to. But those decisions are made by the producers. I’m not privy to those decisions. All I do know is I’m very grateful to the Kings for making the decision to cast me.”
