Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the Indian actress and producer who won Miss World 2000, has recently opened up about her initial struggles in Bollywood, revealing that she "felt really lost" during her early days in the Hindi film industry. Chopra, whose parents were doctors with no ties to the entertainment world, admitted to navigating the "crazy movie industry" without any connections or guidance.
Chopra's journey began after winning the Miss World crown, which led to offers from Bollywood. She made her acting debut in the 2002 Tamil film Thamizhan. The following year, she debuted in Bollywood with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy. Despite achieving success with films like Andaaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Chopra felt like an outsider trying to find her footing in an industry that was "extremely closed off to people coming from outside". She also garnered critical acclaim for her role in Aitraaz.
In a recent interview, Chopra shared how those early experiences shaped her perspective as a producer. She revealed that her production choices are driven by empathy and a desire to support new filmmakers and champion independent and documentary films. "As a producer, I'm empathetic... My production side kind of comes from what personally moves me," she said. She added, "I didn't know why I was gravitating toward filmmakers and stories that were maybe marginalized or told that they're not what is expected...As I'm talking about it, I think it does come from the fact that when I joined the industry, I didn't have it. I was trying to navigate this crazy movie industry by myself with my parents, who were doctors and who also had no idea about the business. And I kind of felt really lost".
Chopra's production house, Purple Pebble Pictures, has been instrumental in backing non-mainstream films and providing opportunities for emerging filmmakers. This decision stems from her understanding of the challenges faced by those who don't have established connections in the industry.
Despite the initial struggles, Chopra rose to become one of Bollywood's leading female stars, appearing in commercially successful and critically acclaimed films such as Krrish, Don, Fashion, Kaminey, Barfi!, and Bajirao Mastani. In 2015, she ventured into Hollywood with the ABC thriller series Quantico, becoming the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series.
Priyanka Chopra is set to return to Indian cinema in 2027 with SS Rajamouli's Varanasi, marking her first Indian release in eight years.
Priyanka Chopra's journey from a "lost" newcomer to a global icon is a testament to her resilience, talent, and determination. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and filmmakers who dream of making it big, regardless of their background.
