From calling out racism to sexism, how Priyanka Chopra Jonas burned her Bollywood bridges
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Priyanka Chopra Jonas seldom used to be in the headlines in India. Whether it's about equal pay, shutting down reporters for scandalous questions, or providing inspiration for people who feel insecure, Priyanka has put herself forward as a global ambassador. In her journey of twenty-odd years, from winning the Miss World pageant at just 18 years of age, conquering Bollywood, and gaining critical recognition in Hollywood, to becoming a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Priyanka's career has diversified and exploded over the past several years. Additionally, she is an entrepreneur, social activist, and role model for numerous women hailing from smaller towns in India. Priyanka has consistently advocated for women's empowerment and encouraged them to shatter the barriers that hinder their growth on various global platforms. So it's not a surprise that a star of her caliber had to face some hurdles in her evergreen career.
In her book 'Unfinished: A Memoir', Priyanka outlines the obstacles she faced, such as bullying, racism, and sexism from her beauty pageant days to marrying singer Nick Jonas, and how she managed to get ahead of them, which led to her fame.
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Priyanka Chopra talks about racism and more in 'Unfinished: A Memoir'
In her book 'Unfinished: A Memoir', Priyanka speaks her heart out on the challenges she faced as a child in the US, and later as a model and an actress in India. Priyanka mentioned that she went to the US at the age of 12 but had to leave for her secondary education due to the intense racist remarks she had to endure. ''In America, I was trying not to be different. Right? I was trying to fit in and I wanted to be invisible. When I went to India, I chose to be different,'' Priyanka said in an interview.
Even before moving to the US, Priyanka faced casual racism in her own family. When she was 13, she started applying skin-lightening techniques after receiving criticism from her uncle for her darker-than-societal-standard skin tone. One would want to believe that when a person gains recognition and fame, he or she manages to shrug off such negativity. But that's not the case, per Priyanka. When she was 18 and her career was beginning to take shape, her father apparently stopped her from attending late-night meetings. He did this in order to save her from the stories that were popping up during the #MeToo movement. "At that time, it made no sense to me. I was like, 'Why [are] you trying to clip my wings? I'm my own woman. I'm 18!'" Priyanka said in an interview. "Daddy was like, 'No… Whatever you wanna do is great, but while you live under my roof, you're not taking meetings at night. Daytime meetings. One of us will be there. Your manager will be there.'"
Priyanka still faces racism and sexism everywhere, even after being in Hollywood for over a decade. In her memoir, Priyanka also recounts a time when she discovered that she was being paid 10% less than a male actor for a role of similar importance. When she asked for a raise, a producer dismissed her request by stating that she was "interchangeable" with any other female actress. Priyanka also reveals that during the same period, she stood up against a director who demanded that her underwear be visible in a scene and ultimately decided to quit the project.
Priyanka's transition into a global icon
Priyanka is a widely recognized international celebrity who has achieved success in various fields. She has won the prestigious Miss World title, is a prominent figure in the Indian film industry, and serves as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Additionally, she is an entrepreneur, social activist, and role model for numerous women hailing from smaller towns. Priyanka has consistently advocated for women's empowerment and encouraged them to shatter the barriers that hinder their growth on various global platforms.
After winning the Miss World title in 2000 at just 18 years old, Priyanka had an illustrious career in India's Bollywood. In 2012, she released her debut song, 'In My City' which gained mass recognition and popularity. She was then propelled further in Hollywood after her performances in ABC's 'Quantico' which ran for three popular seasons. This helped her land a few roles, such as in 'Baywatch' with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, 'Kid like Jake' and 'Isn't it Romantic'.
In 2021, she became the first Indian to present at the Oscars with her husband Nick Jonas. Her project 'The White Tiger' got her her first BAFTA nomination.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas will be seen in 'Citadel' on Amazon Prime Video.