Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra is an actress, producer, singer, and philanthropist, who is known as one of the most influential and highest-paid actresses internationally. She was included in Time’s “100 most influential people in the world.,” Forbes’s list of “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women,” and “BBC’s 100 Women” list.
Early Life and Career
Priyanka Chopra was born to Dr. Ashok Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra, both physicians in the Indian Army. Her younger brother, Siddharth, is seven years her junior. Actresses Parineeti Chopra, Meera Chopra, and Mannara Chopra are her cousins. Her father’s military career led to frequent relocations across India, including Delhi, Pune, Lucknow, Bareilly, and Ladakh. She attended La Martiniere Girls’ School in Lucknow and St. Maria Goretti College in Bareilly.
At 13, she moved to the United States to live with her aunt, studying at schools in Newton, Massachusetts, Iowa, and New York. She participated in theater, Western classical music, choral singing, and Kathak dance. Returning to India, she completed her schooling at Army Public School, Bareilly. She enrolled at Jai Hind College in Mumbai but left after winning Miss World to pursue acting. Initially, she aspired to become a software engineer or criminal psychologist.
Chopra’s entry into entertainment began with her participation in the Femina Miss India 2000 contest, where she placed second. She then won the Miss World 2000 title, becoming the fifth Indian woman to achieve this. Her pageant success led to acting offers. She debuted in the Tamil film Thamizhan (2002) alongside Vijay. In 2003, she entered Bollywood with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, a box-office hit. Her role in Andaaz (2003) earned her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
The Beginning
Priyanka’s career took off after she won the Miss World pageant in 2000. She debuted in the Tamil film Thamizhan (2002) alongside Vijay. In 2003, she entered Hindi fiulms with Anil Sharma’s The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, a box-office hit. Her role in Andaaz (2003) earned her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In Abbas Mastan’s thriller Aitraaz (2004), Chopra played a manipulative, ambitious woman who falsely accuses her employee of sexual harassment. Her performance as a negative character earned her the Filmfare Best Performance in a Negative Role Award. The film was a critical and commercial success, and put Priyanka on the path of success.
Priyanka then starred in “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)” with Salman and Akshay Kumar, Waqt (2005) with Akshay and Bluffmaster! (2005) with Abhishek Bhachchan and Nana Patekar.
Top Of The Game
Priyanka gained widespread recognition with her roles in “Krrish” (2006) opposite Hritik Roishan and “Don” (2006) with Shahrukh Khan. In Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion (2008), Chopra portrayed an aspiring model who rises to fame but faces personal and professional challenges. Her nuanced performance, depicting ambition and vulnerability, won her the National Film Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Best Actress Award. The film was lauded for its realistic portrayal of the fashion industry.
In action drama Kaminey (2009), Chopra played a feisty, street-smart woman, Sweety, entangled in a crime-ridden narrative. Her Maharashtrian accent and chemistry with Shahid Kapoor were highlights. The film, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, was a critical success, showcasing her versatility.
Chopra played an autistic woman, Jhilmil in Anurag Basu’s romantic comedy-drama Barfi! (2012) opossite Ranbir Kapoor. Her sensitive portrayal, marked by subtle expressions and body language, earned immense critical acclaim. The film was a box-office hit and India’s Oscar entry in 2013.
She continued to impress with diverse roles in films like “Dostana (2008),” “7 Khoon Maaf (2011),” “Agneepath (2012),” “Dil Dhadakne Do (2015),” and “Jai Gangaajal (2016).”
Chopra starred as the real-life Indian boxing champion Mary Kom in Omung Kumar’s Mary Kom (2014). She underwent rigorous physical training to portray Kom’s journey. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned her praise for her dedication and authenticity. In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical drama Bajirao Mastani (2015), Chopra played the devoted yet tragic wife of Bajirao. Her understated performance contrasted with the film’s grandeur, earning her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. The film was a global box-office success.
Priyanka Chopra Goes International
In 2015, Priyanka made her mark in Hollywood by starring in the ABC thriller series “Quantico,” becoming the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series. She has also appeared in Hollywood films such as “Baywatch” (2017),” “Isn’t It Romantic” (2019), “We Can Be Heroes” (2020), “The Matrix Resurrections” (2021), and “Love Again (2023).” In 2023, she starred in the Amazon Prime Video action thriller series “Citadel,” which has received positive reviews. More recently she starred in action comedy Heads Of State (2025), along with John Cenna and Idris Alba.
Priyanka is also a successful producer with her production company, Purple Pebble Pictures, which has produced several regional films like Ventilator (2016), Pahuna: The Little Visitors (2018) and Paani (2019). She was also the executive producer of Ramin Bahrani’s The White Tiger (2021), starring herself with Adarsh Gourav, and Rajkummar Rao.
Chopra made a comeback to Hindi cinema with The Sky Is Pink (2019) with Farhan Akhtar. She played a mother grappling with her daughter’s terminal illness in this biographical drama. She also produced the film under Purple Pebble Pictures. Critics praised her emotional depth, with IndieWire calling her “the film’s driving force.”
Philanthropy
Priyanka has been working with UNICEF since 2006, initially recording public service announcements and participating in media discussions to promote children’s rights and girls’ education. In 2010, she was appointed as a UNICEF National Ambassador, and in 2016, she became a Global Goodwill Ambassador. She has traveled to countries like Jordan, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh to meet refugee children and raise awareness about their plight.
Priyanka founded the Priyanka Chopra Foundation for Health and Education, which focuses on providing support for underprivileged children in India. The foundation allocates 10% of her earnings towards education and medical care for children. She also donated 50 lakh rupees for building a new cancer ward in Nanavati Hospital, which was inaugurated by her in 2013, and named after her late father.
She is also a supporter of the UN’s Girl Up campaign, which aims to empower and educate girls worldwide, ensuring they have the opportunity to become leaders. Priyanka has been involved in various other charitable activities, including supporting mental health initiatives, COVID-19 relief efforts, and advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. She has also worked with several NGOs to improve the condition of the girl child in India.
Personal Life
In May 2018, Priyanka began dating American singer Nick Jonas. He proposed on July 19, 2018, in Crete, Greece. They got engaged in a Punjabi Roka ceremony in August 2018 and married in December 2018 at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, in Hindu and Christian ceremonies. In January 2022, they welcomed their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.
The Government of India honored her with Padma Shri (2016) for contributions to the arts Named among Time’s 100 Most Influential People (2016) and Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2017, 2018). In 2022, she was listed in BBC’s 100 Women. Her memoir, Unfinished (2021), became a New York Times bestseller.
Priyanka Chopra’s journey from a small-town girl to a global icon is truly inspiring. She continues to balance her career between Bollywood and Hollywood. Her versatility, talent, and dedication have made her a role model for many aspiring actors and young women around the world.
Priyanka Chopra on IMDB
