Priyanka Chopra

A Fairy Tale Success Story

Glamorous, gorgeous, bold and sultry, Priyanka Chopra’s stunning looks and quick wit first had us going gaga when she won the Miss World pageant, back in 2000. Now more than 15 years later, she is not only the reigning queen of this region but the newest smash hit in Hollywood with her currently airing series Quantico. Having bagged a central role in the upcoming Baywatch movie followed by a win at the Padma Shri, this diva about town is destined for greatness.

The head-turning beauty, Priyanka Chopra began with winning the Miss World pageant and is now one of Bollywood’s highest paid actresses and one of the sexiest women in Asia. Born to parents Ashok and Madhu Chopra, both physicians in the Indian army, this beauty has had quite an adventurous childhood, moving places. Reminiscing about her past, she loved her time in Kashmir. “I think I was in Class 4 when I stayed in Leh for a year and my memories of that place are tremendous. We were all army kids there. We weren’t living in houses, we were in bunkers in the valley and there was a stupa right on top of a hill which used to overlook our valley. We used to race up to the top of the stupa.”

Exceptionally close to both her parents, especially her late father, it was Priyanka’s mother who propelled her to stardom. Seeing the beauty and her brains, her mother entered her in the Femina Miss India contest of 2000 where Priyanka won the title. She then went on to win the Miss World pageant, and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty—Asia & Oceania at the Millennium Dome in London on 30 November 2000.

Priyanka made her Hindi film debut with the movie The Hero in 2003. Although the movie itself did not do well, Chopra was singled out by the audiences and critics alike. She later starred in the box-office hits Andaaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, which earned her critical praise along with her breakout role in the 2004 thriller Aitraaz. By then, Chopra had established herself as a leading actress of Indian cinema with leading roles in the highly successful films such as Krrish and Don and her role in 2008 drama Fashion became her real claim to fame, catapulting her to great heights of success earning her the National Film Award , the Filmfare, the IIFA, the Screen Award, and the Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress. This was soon followed by Chopra gaining recognition and praise for her talent and versatility with unconventional roles in Kaminey, 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi, Mary Kom and Bajirao Mastani, all of which came with several accolades.

While establishing herself as a prominent actor, Priyanka also tried her hands at singing, releasing three hit songs and charming the world with her husky seductive voice. Chopra’s main vocal influence was her father, who helped develop her interest in singing and inspired her to be an achiever.  Sporting a tattoo that says Daddy’s Little Girl, she recalled in an interview, “ I was not a girly-girl and would always break something and would be running around and didn’t really fit in. And dad would tell me, ‘Don’t worry about fitting into a glass slipper; shatter the glass ceiling.’”  In 2012, Chopra became the first Bollywood star signed by Creative Artists Agency, an entertainment and sports agency based in Los Angeles. She collaborated with Sam Watters, Matthew Koma and Jay Sean for her singles, In My City, Exotic and a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me.

Having already created a niche in the local industry, Priyanka has now increased the extent of her fan base by playing the lead role in hit ABC series Quantico, known worldwide as Alex Parrish, the first South Asian woman to headline an American network series.

However, this international success did not come easy. As a teenager in America, Chopra faced racial issues and was bullied for being Indian at school. She once said, “I was a gawky kid, had low self-esteem, came from a modest middle-class background, had white marks on my legs. But I was damn hard working. Today, my legs sell 12 brands.” Responding to a stereotypical question, she once said “I’m not Indian-American, I’m Indian-Indian. Everybody expected me to have henna and a nose pin and talk in an accent like Apu from The Simpsons. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if America was ready for a lead that looked like me. I didn’t want to be a stereotype of what an Indian girl should be. I wanted to be what I personify in my Indian movies: independent, sexy, good at my job and really smart.”

She has received numerous awards and was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by the Government of India in recognition of her contributions to the industry. Priyanka Chopra is many things – beautiful, intelligent, down to earth and quick witted and she sure does not lack confidence. “I am a little – I won’t say arrogant – self-assured,” she once said in an interview. Exceptionally hardworking, calculating and determined, she has always been driven to succeed. “After I won Miss India I realised I do not like failing. I just like being the bestI never had any ambition in my life, I have always worked very hard at the opportunities that have come my way. I am an achiever.” She is also big on destiny. “I believe destiny and hard work go hand in hand. I was studying to be an engineer when my mom and my brother sent my pictures for the Miss India contest. I didn’t even know about it. If that isn’t destiny, what is?”

As far as her personal life goes, there have been many link-up stories and rumours but she never lets the cat out of the bag. The only insight she provides is that her father has already set the bar too high. “If I am ever with someone, please know that, I will be with a show-man. My dad was one and I think whoever I will be with has to be one.”

In addition to her acting career, Chopra is noted for her philanthropic work. Appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010, she is also a prominent face for campaigns on environment, health and education, women empowerment and women’s rights, and is particularly vocal about gender equality, and gender pay inequality.

TRIVIA

-          As a tribute to her father, Priyanka got ‘Daddy’s Lil Girl’ tattooed on her wrist in his writing. She says, “Before my dad died, I asked him to write ‘Daddy’s Lil Girl’ on a piece of paper for me. I told him it was for an album. He practiced and practiced and then sent it to me and I had it tattooed onto my wrist and surprised him with it. He cried when he saw it, happy tears. This way, I always carry him with me.”

-          In 2006, a toy company in England created a fashion doll based on Priyanka Chopra’s name and image. It was part of the Bollywood Legend series which also included stars Hrithik Roshani, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kajol. The dolls are now considered rare collectors’ items.

-          She is the first Indian diva to feature in Italy’s Salvatore Ferragamo Museum, joining the ranks of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.

-          Listed #1 by UK magazine Eastern Eye as one of Asia’s Sexiest Women, in the September-2006 issue, she has received 85 awards including one National Film Award, four Filmfare and IIFA Awards, six Screen Awards and seven Star Guild Awards..