Priyanka Chopra is an Indian film actress, singer, and songwriter. Chopra born 18 July 1982 and won the Femina Miss India World and Miss World titles of 2000 and has had a successful film career since, mostly in Bollywood films. Today she is one of Bollywood's highest-paid actresses and one of the most popular celebrities in India. Chopra has won a National Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Awards in four categories.
Chopra was born in Jamshedpur to parents who were both physicians in the Indian army. Due to their occupations, she frequently travelled as a child, but considers Bareilly to be her real home. After a period of living with an aunt in the United States, she moved back to India and won a local beauty contest. In 2000, her mother entered her into the Femina Miss India contest, in which she finished second and took the Femina Miss India World title. She was then entered into the Miss World pageant, where she was crowned Miss World 2000, becoming the fifth Indian to win the competition.
Although Chopra had aspirations to graduate with a degree in engineering or psychiatry, she accepted offers to join the Indian film industry, making her acting debut opposite Vijay in the Tamil film Thamizhan in 2002. The following year, she starred in The Hero, her first Hindi film release, and followed it with the box-office hit Andaaz, which won her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award (shared with Lara Dutta) and a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. She subsequently earned wide critical recognition for the role of a seductress in the 2004 thriller Aitraaz, winning her the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. Chopra starred in the 2006 blockbuster superhero film Krrish, and established herself as a leading contemporary actress of Hindi Cinema. After a period with little acclaim, she was praised for her portrayal of a range of unconventional characters, including a troubled model in the 2008 drama Fashion (for which she won many 'Best Actress' awards), a serial killer in the 2011 neo-noir 7 Khoon Maaf, and an autistic woman in the 2012 romantic comedy Barfi!. CNN-IBN described Chopra "as one of the most powerful actresses in the current lot and someone who doesn't shy away from experimenting with roles within the realms of popular cinema".
Chopra is regarded as one of the most popular celebrities in India and has been described as a style icon. Her personal and professional life has received substantial media attention. In addition to acting in films, she has participated in stage shows, hosted a reality show on television, and has written columns for India's national newspapers. She has also engaged in philanthropic activities, and was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010. In 2012, Chopra released her first music single "In My City", which, although a commercial success in India, was met with a mixed reaction from critics.
Early life and background
Priyanka Chopra was born on 18 July 1982 in Jamshedpur, Bihar (now in Jharkhand) to Ashok and Madhu Chopra, both physicians in the Indian Army.[1][2] Her father is Punjabi, while her mother is from Jharkhand.[3] She has a brother, Siddharth, who is seven years her junior,[4] and cousins of hers include actresses Parineeti Chopra, Meera Chopra,and Barbie Handa.[5][6] Due to her parents' occupations the family relocated to a number of Indian cities, including Delhi, Pune, Lucknow, Bareilly, Ladakh, Chandigarh and Ambala.[7] Among the schools she attended are La Martiniere Girls' School in Lucknow[8] and St. Maria Goretti College in Bareilly.[9][10] In an interview published in Daily News and Analysis, Chopra said that she did not mind travelling regularly and changing schools; she welcomed it as a new experience and a way to discover India's multicultural society.[11] She now considers Bareilly her home town, and maintains strong connections there.[12] Chopra has fond memories as a child of playing in the valleys of Leh, in the cold northwestern Indian desert region of Jammu and Kashmir. She has said:
"I think I was in Class 4 when I was in Leh. My brother was just born. My dad was in the army and was posted there. 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 and that too 'nange paon' (bare feet). We used to go to the market then."[13]
At the age of thirteen, Chopra moved to the United States to live with her aunt, attending schools in Newton, Massachusetts and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[14][15] While in Massachusetts, she participated in several theatre productions and studied Western classical music, choral singing and Kathak dance.[16] Chopra was the only Indian in her class in the United States to have been selected at state level for the National Opus Honour Choir.[17] However, by Grade 10, she was keen on becoming a software engineer or a criminal psychologist, rather than a performer.[17] During her teenage years in America, Chopra sometimes faced racial issues and bullying for her looks. In 2012 she said of these years, "I was gawky imperfect, 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."[18]
Chopra returned to India, finishing her high-school education at the Army Public School in Bareilly.[19][20] During this period, she won the local "May Queen" beauty pageant,[21] after which she was followed by admirers, and her family installed bars in their home.[15] Her mother then entered her in the Femina Miss India contest of 2000;[22] she finished second, winning the Femina Miss India World title.[23] Chopra then went on to the Miss World pageant, where she was crowned Miss World 2000 and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty—Asia & Oceania at the Millennium Dome in London on 1 December 2000.[24][25][26][27] Chopra was the fifth Indian contestant to win Miss World, and the fourth to do so in seven years.[25][28] She had enrolled in college, but left after winning the Miss World pageant.[10][21] Chopra said that the Miss India and Miss World titles brought her recognition, and she then began receiving offers for film roles.[16][29] Manish Telikic Chary said that Chopra's decision to pursue a film career was like many "beauty queens [who] sought careers in movies, setting new standards for beauty in Bollywood."[30]
Chopra has maintained a strong relationship with her family, especially her younger brother, Siddharth, and lives in an apartment on the same floor as her family, with her dog Brando.[1][31] Having not come from a film background, she describes herself as a self-made woman.[32] Her mother, a well-established gynaecologist in Bareilly, gave up her practice to support Chopra as she embarked upon a successful film career.[33][34] According to Chopra's former secretary Prakash Jaju, Chopra signed an agreement a month after winning the Miss World title in which she agreed to pay him 10 percent of her fee for every movie, stage show and advertisement.[35] In 2004, Jaju allegedly filed a case in a Mumbai court against Chopra in which he demanded 13.7 million for outstanding fees.[35] In 2006, the case reached a climax when her father Ashok Chopra lodged a complaint with the police alleging that Jaju was threatening him and his daughter, and Jaju lodged a counter complaint, alleging that underworld don Chhota Shakeel had threatened to kill him if he continued to demand the money that Chopra allegedly owed him.[35] In September 2007 a warrant was issued in a court in Indore against Ashok Chopra for allegedly issuing threats to Jaju through Shakeel.
Acting career
Debut and breakthrough (2002–04)
Chopra had agreed to make her film debut in Abbas-Mustan's romantic thriller Humraaz, immediately after winning Miss India.[29] However, the role went to another actress, despite the fact that the producers were willing to delay production to accommodate her pageant commitments, as Chopra was showing an interest in other films.[37] She made her screen debut in the 2002 Tamil film Thamizhan as the love interest of the protagonist, played by Vijay. The film was praised for its wit and dialogue, although Chopra's character was seen as lacking in depth;[38] Rediff.com asserted that she showed "no promise".[39]
In 2003, Chopra made her Bollywood film debut as the second female lead opposite Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta in Anil Sharma's The Hero: Love Story of a Spy.[2] Set against the backdrop of the Indian Army in Kashmir, the film tells the story of an agent and his fight against terrorism. The Hero was one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films that year, but received mixed reviews from critics.[40][41] Later that year she appeared in Raj Kanwar's box-office success Andaaz with Akshay Kumar, again sharing the female lead (this time with the debuting Lara Dutta).[40] Chopra played a "young and vivacious" girl who falls in love with Kumar's character. Her performance earned her a share of the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award (along with Dutta) and a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.[42] The Hindustan Times noted the glamour that she brought to the role,[43] and Ashish Magotra, writing for Rediff.com, said that Chopra "clicks with the audience, thanks to her skimpy outfits."[44]
Chopra's first three releases in 2004—Plan, Kismat, and Asambhav—performed poorly at the box-office.[45] Chopra was typically cast during this earlier period as a "glamour quotient", in roles that were considered "forgettable" by film critic Joginder Tuteja.[45][46] Later that year she starred with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar in David Dhawan's romantic comedy Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, which was a commercial success (with worldwide gross earnings of over 56 crore (US$10 million)) and the third-highest-grossing film of the year in India.[47] In late 2004, she starred opposite Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in Abbas-Mustan's thriller Aitraaz. Chopra considers her first role as an antagonist, portraying Soniya Roy, an ambitious woman who accuses her employee of sexual harassment, as the "biggest" learning experience of her career.[20] The film had average success at the Indian box office,[48] but Chopra's performance was critically acclaimed.[46] Author Rini Bhattacharya credited her for "bringing back the seductress to the silver screen" for portraying a morally unscrupulous woman.[49][50] The Hindustran Times cited it as the film which "changed the ball game" for her, in that she "dared to delve into the unknown and portrayed the role of a vamp with aplomb."[43] A reviewer writing for the BBC said, "Aitraaz is Priyanka Chopra's film. As the deliciously wicked, gold digging, scheming seductress, she chews up every scene she is in with her magnetic screen presence."[51] She earned a Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role (also known as the Best Villain Award),[2] becoming the second and final actress to win the award after Kajol (the category was discontinued in 2008). Chopra also received another nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance.[42]
Early success and setbacks (2005–07)
In 2005, Chopra appeared in six films. Three of them—Blackmail, Karam and Yakeen—were commercially unsuccessful.[52] Shilpa Bharatan-Iyer of Rediff.com considered Blackmail to be a very predictable film and believed that her role as a police commissioner's wife was very limited from an acting viewpoint, saying, "Priyanka has three tasks in the film. She has to look beautiful. She has to tempt Rathore with a sultry come-hither dance. She has to spout tears and wail".[53] Her performance in Yakeen was better received. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama wrote that Chopra "is bound to win laurels yet again ... the actor is emerging as one of the finest talents in these fast-changing times".[54] Chopra played the girlfriend of Akshay Kumar in Vipul Amrutlal Shah's family drama Waqt: The Race Against Time, the story of a small businessman (played by Amitabh Bachchan) who, hiding his illness, wants to teach his irresponsible son some lessons before he dies. During production, Chopra revisited Leh, a favourite childhood haunt, for the shooting of the song 'Subah Hogi',[13] and she suffered an accident during the filming for the song 'Do Me A Favour Let's Play Holi' when she electrocuted herself, spending a day in the hospital in recovery. The film was a moderate box-office success, and 'Do Me A Favour Let's Play Holi' was praised for having the "right mood, colour and energy required for a Holi song".[52][55] Her next release was Suneel Darshan's romance Barsaat, co-starring Bobby Deol and Bipasha Basu. The film was a critical and commercial failure, and Chopra's performance received mixed reviews.[52] Omar Ahmed of the Birmingham Evening Mail described the film as a "hackneyed, cliche-ridden effort", and said that "Basu and Chopra are both capable, but their performances, like the whole film, will be forgotten instantly".[56] Taran Adarsh described her performance as "mechanical".[57] Later that year, Rohan Sippy cast her with Abhishek Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh and Nana Patekar in the comedy Bluffmaster!. Chopra played independent working woman Simran Saxena (Bachchan's love interest) in the film. According to critic Subhash K. Jha, "Chopra has little to do. But she does it with eye-catching aplomb."[58]
After special appearances in three films, Chopra began 2006 by starring in Rakesh Roshan's superhero film Krrish (a sequel to the 2003 science-fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya). Co-starring with Hrithik Roshan, Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah, Chopra played a young television journalist who schemes to take advantage of an innocent young man with remarkable physical abilities. The film was a major box-office success, earned 117 crore (US$21 million) worldwide,[47] and was the second-highest-grossing film of the year in India.[59] Her next film was Dharmesh Darshan's romantic comedy Aap Ki Khatir, co-starring Akshaye Khanna, Ameesha Patel and Dino Morea, which was a commercial failure in India.[60]
Chopra's final release of 2006 was Farhan Akhtar's action-thriller Don (a remake of the 1978 film of the same name), with Shahrukh Khan. It was declared a box-office success in India and overseas, with revenues of 105 crore (US$19 million).[47] Chopra portrayed Roma (played by Zeenat Aman in the original film), who joins the underworld to avenge Don for killing her brother. The actress received martial-arts training for her role in the movie, and performed her own stunts.[61] Raja Sen of Rediff.com wrote that Chopra "is the film's big surprise. Stepping into Zeenat Aman's shoes is a tough task, but she doesn't really waste time pretending to be the stunner's successor. Chopra handles her role with efficiency, looking every bit the competent woman of action".[62]
In 2007, Chopra had just two leading roles. Her first film was Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love, a romantic comedy in six chapters with an ensemble cast. She was featured in the first chapter, with Salman Khan, as Kamini, an item girl and aspiring actress who tries to land the lead role in a Karan Johar film with a publicity gimmick. Despite a promising opening, the movie was a financial failure[63] and her performance was criticised. Her other release, the much-delayed Big Brother, also proved unsuccessful at the box office; it failed to propel her career, which appeared to be on a down-slide.
Critical acclaim (2008–11)
In 2008, Chopra appeared in six films; the first four—Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho, Chamku and Drona—were critical and commercial failures,[60] and her performances generated mixed-to-negative reviews. For example, Rajeev Masand said that in Love Story 2050 Chopra shared no chemistry with her co-star and "fails to inspire either affection or sympathy."[64] After six consecutive unsuccessful films (stemming back to 2007), critics began to write her off.[60] Later that year Chopra starred in Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion, a drama about the Indian fashion industry which followed the lives (and career ups and downs) of several fashion models. Chopra portrayed the ambitious Meghna Mathur, who went on to become a supermodel. She initially refused the film offer, saying that she would not be able to do justice to the role. However, she agreed to the film (after keeping it on hold for six months) because of Bhandarkar's confidence in her.[65] During production, the media spread rumours that Chopra was starving herself to reduce her weight to that of a supermodel. Chopra claimed that her physique was achieved by two months of training on the beach and a disciplined diet, and answered those who questioned her body in the film:[66]
"I always like to work on my character. That's why I work on one film at a time. For 'Fashion' I opted for a toned body. I went on a health-conscious diet, though I didn't cut down on my food or anything... It isn't about getting thin at all. It's just about toning my body. I don't think you need to be reed-thin to be beautiful. I think Indian women look terrible when they try to get anorexic. We (Indian women) are naturally healthy. And by that I don't mean voluptuous... But, yes, we've been given a certain kind of figure. We're well proportioned and aesthetically endowed in all the right places. And by getting exceptionally thin, we're going against nature."
The film (and her performance) were appreciated by critics, and earned Chopra several awards, including the National Film Award,[67] the Filmfare Award, the IIFA Award, the Screen Award, and the Apsara Award for Best Actress.[42][68] Magazine Pratiyogita Darpan said that Chopra gave a "splendid performance as a small town girl who makes it big in the world of fashion."[69] Rajeev Masand wrote, "Priyanka Chopra turns in a respectable performance, one that will inevitably go down as her best."[70] Outlook magazine on the other hand said "the film is packed with innumerable characters, but most remain sketchy, except for the heroine, Priyanka Chopra. And she too doesn't really come out shining. The small-town girl has a rather easy way up the modelling ladder."[71] Fashion proved to be a turning point in Chopra's career.[46] She said in retrospect, "I think actually Fashion kick started ... the process of female dominated films. Today you have so many other films which have done well with female leads."[20]
Chopra's final film of the year was Tarun Mansukhani's romantic comedy Dostana, with Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham. Set in Miami, the film tells the story of a friendship between her character and two men who pretend to be gay to share an apartment with her. Chopra played "stylish and focused" young fashion-magazine editor Neha, who is trying to deal with professional pressures in her life. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film was a financial success with worldwide revenues of over 86 crore (US$16 million).[47] Chopra received positive reviews for her performance and her beauty in the film;[72] Khalid Mohammed found her "pretty convincing",[73] and Gaurav Malani of Indiatimes wrote "Priyanka Chopra looks gorgeous and is perfectly poised in her performance."[74] However, Outlook Profit said that "You feel Priyanka Chopra's daring slits darted a wee bit too much up her thighs in the frugal, figure hugging lehenga choli she poured herself into."[71]
The following year Chopra played a feisty Marathi woman named Sweety in Vishal Bhardwaj's caper thriller Kaminey (co-starring Shahid Kapoor), about twin brothers linked with the underworld. Kaminey was a critical and commercial success, earning 71 crore (US$13 million) worldwide.[47] Her performance received positive reviews; Taran Adarsh described it as "first-rate" and wrote, "She's so much in sync with her character ... [and] gets the Maharashtrian accent perfect."[72][75] Her role earned her several awards and nominations, including a second Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination[76] and an Apsara Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (her second consecutive win in that category after Fashion).[77]
Chopra subsequently appeared in Ashutosh Gowariker's romantic comedy What's Your Raashee?, based on the novel Kimball Ravenswood by Madhu Rye. The film depicts the story of a U.S.-based Gujrati NRI in search of his soulmate among twelve girls (all played by Chopra) associated with the twelve zodiac signs. She was considered for inclusion in the Guinness World Records book for being the first film actress to portray 12 distinct characters in one film.[78] Reaction to the film was lukewarm,[72] but Chopra's performance was praised by critics. Sukanya Verma, in a review for Rediff.com, wrote: "Priyanka Chopra transforms into 12 new skins with astonishing distinction, voice and spirit. The actress reinvents herself into this unique individual every single time ranging from batty, bashful and boisterous. This is simply her show."[79] Chopra's heavy workload—filming for several productions, travelling for endorsements and performing at live shows (including the Miss India pageant)—took its toll; she fainted during filming, and was admitted to a hospital.[80]
In 2010 Chopra starred with Uday Chopra in Jugal Hansraj's romantic comedy Pyaar Impossible! as Alisha, a beautiful college girl (and later a working mother) who falls in love with a nerdy boy. The film was a commercial and critical failure.[72] Later that year, she co-starred with Ranbir Kapoor in Siddharth Anand's romantic comedy Anjaana Anjaani. The film (set in New York and Las Vegas) follows the story of two strangers, both trying to commit suicide, who eventually fall in love with each other. The film was a moderate commercial success,[81] and her performance received mixed reviews from critics. Sarita Tanwar of Mid Day wrote, "Priyanka Chopra is at her casual and spontaneous best. She embraces the character completely and makes it totally believable",[82] while Anupama Chopra dismissed her acting as "artificial".[83]
Chopra turned down the role of Phaedra in Tarsem Singh's Hollywood fantasy film Immortals because it conflicted with the shooting schedule for her first film of 2011, Vishal Bhardwaj's black comedy 7 Khoon Maaf.[84] Based on the short story "Susanna's Seven Husbands" by Ruskin Bond, the film centers on Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, an Anglo-Indian woman (played by Chopra) who murders her seven husbands in an unending quest for love. The film premiered at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.[85] 7 Khoon Maaf received a generally positive response from critics, and Chopra's performance was singled out for praise.[72] Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India remarked, "7 Khoon Maaf would undoubtedly end up as a milestone in Priyanka Chopra's career graph. The actor displays exquisite command over a complex character that is definitely a first in Indian cinema."[86] Chopra's performance earned her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination at the 57th Filmfare Awards.[87]
Chopra's final release of the year saw her reprising her role as Roma in the second part of the Don film series, Don 2. Co-star Sahil Shroff has spoken of Chopra's professionalism during the production of the Don films, remarking that "she would be absolutely focused and alert on the sets. But after pack-up, she is a fun girl to hang around and party with."[88] He has stated that Chopra was influential in his character development, assisting in "drawing and building" his character in her own way.[88] Although the film received mixed reviews,[89] Chopra's performance earned positive feedback from critics. According to The Express Tribune, "Chopra pulls off her role with aplomb and seems to be the perfect choice for an action heroine. As you watch her effortlessly beat up some thugs in the movie, you come to the realisation that she may be the first proper female action hero in Bollywood."[90] A review by Divanee Magazine said that Chopra surprised, with a demeanor similar to Tomb Raider's Lara Croft.[91] Don 2 was a major success in India and overseas, earning over 206 crore (US$38 million) worldwide.[92] It set multiple box-office records, and was the highest-grossing Bollywood movie overseas in 2011.[93] Don 2 was showcased at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival[94] and (with Don) at the 2012 International Film Festival of Marrakech, in Morocco.
Recent work (2012–present)
In a 2012 interview with The Times of India, Chopra professed to have always "wanted to be the sum of more than just my movies" and said that she aspires to acquire a persona like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She remarked that "I imbibe from people I work with and I want to be like them",[34] and cited Mumtaz, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn as fashion inspirations.[96] Chopra's first film of 2012 was Karan Malhotra's action drama Agneepath, in which she starred with Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt and Rishi Kapoor. Produced by Karan Johar, the film is a remake of his father's 1990 production of the same name. In one of several accidents to happen during production, Chopra's lehenga (a traditional skirt) caught fire while filming a sequence for an elaborate Ganpati festival song.[97] Upon release, the film broke Bollywood's highest opening-day earnings record; it became a critical and commercial success, with a worldwide gross of 193 crore (US$35 million).[92][98] Her performance as Kaali Gawde, Roshan's loquacious love interest, was appreciated by critics; Mayank Shekhar wrote that Chopra stood out in a male-dominated film.[99] Agneepath was later screened at the International Film Festival of Marrakech.[100] She next co-starred with Shahid Kapoor in Kunal Kohli's romance, Teri Meri Kahaani. The film tells the stories of three unconnected couples (each played by Kapoor and Chopra), born in different eras. The film opened to mixed reactions from critics, but Chopra's performance was generally well received. Sonia Chopra of Sify wrote, "Priyanka delivers a superb performance easily slipping in-and-out of the layered characters with dexterity."[101] The film did not perform well at the Indian box office, but was moderately successful overseas.
Anurag Basu's Barfi!, with Ranbir Kapoor and Ileana D'Cruz, was her final appearance of 2012. Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of three people, two of whom are physically disabled. Chopra played Jhilmil Chatterjee, an autistic woman who falls in love with a deaf, mute man. Screenwriter Rituparno Ghosh considers it a "very, very brave" role to accept given how demanding it is for an actor to convincingly portray a woman suffering with autism.[103] In order to fully prepare for the role, Chopra visited several mental institutions and spent time with autistic people. She said, "I had to research a little for the role because in India awareness about a condition such as autism is very low."[104] The film received rave reviews from film critics[103][105] and was a major commercial success, earning 175 crore (US$32 million) worldwide.[106] Chopra received unanimous praise for her portrayal, which several reviewers regarded as her best performance to date.[107] The Indo-Asian News Service review said, "Priyanka Chopra as the autistic Jhilmil steals the show from Ranbir, if that's possible. Her inherent glamorous personality simply disappears into her character. We don't see the actress on screen at all! We see only Jhilmil who reminds us in a very pleasant way of Sridevi in Sadma. This is one of the most flawless interpretations of a physical-psychological disability seen on celluloid."[108] Chopra received another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[87] The film was screened at the Busan[109] and Marrakech International Film Festivals,[95] and was chosen as India’s entry for the 85th Academy Awards.[110]
Chopra's first release of 2013 was K. C. Bokadia's much-delayed Deewana Main Deewana, which had been filmed nearly a decade earlier. It received lackluster reviews, primarily due to its aged look and feel.[111] She agreed to a special appearance in Shootout at Wadala in a song called "Babli Badmaash Hai", which is her first item number.[112] Film composer Anu Malik stated that the concept of the song, and the idea of featuring Chopra, came about when he was sitting in director Sanjay Gupta's office with lyrics writer Kumar, saying, "Suddenly I had a vision of Priyanka in front of me. She is really bubbly. So I used the word Babli."[113] Gupta concurred with Malik, believing that it "could have only been Priyanka" to "recreate the magic of Zeenat Aman or Parveen Babi", but he had a hard time convincing Chopra to accept an appearance in an item number and she took six months to relent.[114] The song, with a "70s vibe", was shot over the course of three or four days in Mumbai.[114] In choosing her first item number, Chopra was reportedly strict over the choice of song and footage, in that she frowned against the use of vulgar words or skin on show, and rejected the songs of various composers before deciding upon an appropriate number.[113] She has filmed Apoorva Lakhia's Zanjeer, a remake of the 1973 Hindi film of the same name.[115] It was filmed in Hyderabad, simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu;[116] the Telugu release is to be titled Toofan.
The actress has several projects under development. Chopra has confirmed that she will voice an aircraft in the Disney animation film Planes, a spinoff of the 2006 film Cars and its 2011 sequel Cars 2.[117] She will also reprise her role of Priya in Rakesh Roshan's Krrish 3—a sequel to the 2006 superhero film Krrish—with Hrithik Roshan, Vivek Oberoi and Kangna Ranaut.[118] She is also filming Ali Abbas Zafar's Gunday, co-starring Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor and produced by Yash Raj Films.[119] According to the Hindustan Times, Parineeti Chopra was influential in getting her the role in Gunday.[120] Chopra has said of her casting as a Bengali woman in the film, "I think Bengali girls are beautiful and bold and I love playing bold and beautiful girls.".[121] Chopra has been signed for Ekta Kapoor's next production, Milan Talkies, to be directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia.[122] She will also play the lead role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's biopic of world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom. To prepare for this role, she plans to spend time with Kom and receive four months of boxing training.
Other ventures
Music career
Chopra's main vocal influence was her father, who she said is "an incredible singer", and developed her interest in singing.[124][125] She used her vocal talent early in her pageantry career.[126] Her parents exposed her to an eclectic range of musicians, including Mohammad Rafi, The Beatles, Metallica, The Doors, and 50 Cent, and she is also influenced by Michael Jackson, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, The Notorious B.I.G, U2, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna, and by Indian singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan.[127][128]
Her first recording, the song "Ullathai Killadhe" in the Tamil film Thamizhan (2002), was made at the urging of her director and co-star (who had noticed her singing on the set).[129] She declined to sing playback for "Tinka Tinka" in her film Karam (2005), preferring to concentrate on her acting career, but later sang the song live on the television programme Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.[130] Chopra recorded an unreleased song for Bluffmaster! (2005).[131] In August 2011, Universal Music Group signed Chopra to a worldwide recording agreement with DesiHits. Troy Carter, CEO of Atom Factory (which also manages Lady Gaga), was signed by Chopra to manage her music career.[132] Her first studio album will be released by Interscope Records in North America and by Island Records elsewhere.[132]
In July 2012, Chopra became the first Bollywood star signed by Creative Artists Agency, an entertainment and sports agency based in Los Angeles.[133] Travelling to Los Angeles to work on her album, Chopra collaborated with Sam Watters, Matthew Koma and Jay Sean. The album, produced by RedOne,[134] is scheduled for release in early 2013.[135] Her first single, "In My City", debuted in the U.S. 13 September 2012 on the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football, 12 hours after it was released in India;[136] a shortened version of the song was used to open each show of the season. "In My City" features rapper will.i.am; it was inspired by Chopra's unsettled childhood and her journey from a small-town girl to a celebrity.[7] "In My City" trended at number one on Twitter several minutes after release.[137] The song received mixed reviews from critics, but was a commercial success in India; it sold more than 130,000 copies in its first week, topped the Hindi pop chart and was certified triple platinum.[135][138] In the United States the single was less successful, with 5,000 digital downloads in its first week at the iTunes store (according to Nielsen SoundScan), and has yet to receive radio play.[135] The music video for the song was released in late January 2013.[138] In October 2012, the single won her the Best International Debut award at the People's Choice Awards India.[139] In December 2012, she received three nominations: Best Female Artist, Best Song and Best Video (for "In My City") at the World Music Awards.[140] She also received the Trailblazer Award from the South Asians in Media, Marketing and Entertainment Association "for her blazing trails in the U.S. for Indian entertainers as the first Bollywood actor to win a major record deal in the U.S., and her ongoing commitment and passion for continuous creative/artistic/personal achievement."[2] Chopra was a featured artist on "Erase", an electronic dance music single released by the American disc-jockey and producer duo The Chainsmokers on 4 December 2012.[141][142] She is now working with American rapper Pitbull for her third single "Exotic", for which she has commenced recording her part in Miami.
Television and stage performances
In 2007, Chopra was on the judges' panel of the Miss India pageant. She stated, "Miss India will always remain special. That's where it all started for me. And maybe that's where it would've ended if I hadn't won the crown."[144] Chopra also performed at Miss India 2009, and was a judge at Miss World 2009.[145][146] In 2010, Chopra hosted the third season of the reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi on the Colors channel, taking over from previous host Akshay Kumar. The first stunts were shot with 13 contestants at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[147] According to contestants, in hosting the series, Chopra had "transformed into quite a whip-wielding dictator", relentlessly pushing the contestants to work.[147] One contestant of Khatron Ke Khiladi remarked that Chopra "carries not a whip, but a whistle which is as good as whip. The whistle is with her throughout from 7.30 in the morning till late evening when we pack up. And she uses the whistle to intimidate us like no other woman".[147] Chopra performed most of her own stunts, adamant to prove that she could rival Akshay Kumar, who had hosted the previous two seasons.[147] The opening ratings of the show topped those of the two previous seasons.[148] The show was praised by critics,[149] and earned the Indian Telly Award for Most Impactful Debut on Television.[150] She visited Jawan troops in Tenga, in eastern India, for a special episode of the NDTV show Jai Jawan celebrating the 60th anniversary of India's independence.[151]
Chopra has participated in a number of concerts and award ceremonies. She took part in a world concert tour, "Temptations 2004", and performed with other Bollywood actors (including Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta and Arjun Rampal) in nineteen stage shows.[152] In 2011, Chopra participated (with Shahid Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan) in a Durban, South Africa concert celebrating 150 years of India–South Africa friendship.[153] In 2012, Chopra performed at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in the opening ceremony of the fifth season of cricket's Indian Premier League with Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor and international pop star Katy Perry.[154] She also performed with other Bollywood divas in the opening ceremony for a new IPL franchise at the Sahara Stadium.[155] In late 2012 she performed a tribute to late filmmaker Yash Chopra at the People's Choice Awards India,[139] and performed at Dubai Festival City's Ahlan Bollywood Concert with Salman Khan, Zarine Khan, Sophie Choudry, Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sohail Khan.
Column writing
Chopra began writing an opinion column, "The Priyanka Chopra Column", for the Hindustan Times in 2009. She said after her first year of writing: "I’m a private person and never thought that I could express my feelings. But strangely enough, whenever I sat down to write this column, my inner most thoughts came to the fore."[157] In March 2009, she met several readers in person who had submitted feedback on her weekly column.[158] As of 2012, Chopra was still writing sporadically for newspapers. In August 2012 she wrote a column published in The Times of India titled "No woman in Mumbai feels safe any longer", discussing the murder of 25-year-old Pallavi Purkayastha,[159] whom she met while working on Don.[20] In the article, Chopra expressed her views about the safety of women in cities.
Philanthropy
Chopra with designer Manish Malhotra at CPAA charity fashion show in July 2012
Chopra often speaks out on women's issues: against female infanticide and foeticide, and in support of education for girls.[160][161] In 2006, a "day with Chopra" was auctioned on eBay; the proceeds were donated to an NGO, Nanhi Kali, which helps educate girls in India.[162] In 2010 the actress was one of several celebrities who created promotional messages for Pearls Wave Trust, which campaigns against violence and abuse of women and girls.[163] Chopra also appeared at the launch of a campaign called "Save Girl Child", which aims to change the attitudes of Indians towards girls.[164] She has worked with UNICEF since 2008, recording public-service announcements and participating in media panel discussions promoting children's rights and the education of girls, and also participated in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.[165] She was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights on 10 August 2010.[166][167][168] UNICEF Representative Karin Hulshof said of the appointment:[169]
"You all know Priyanka Chopra as a shining star of Indian cinema. Now, I tell you that she is equally passionate about her work on behalf of children and adolescents. We are proud of the work she has done with us so far on child rights, and, we are thrilled about all what we will be doing together so that no child gets left behind. Priyanka, with her unwavering commitment to child rights, will help to create a world fit for children.
In 2012 Chopra spoke at the launch of Awakening Youth, an anti-addiction program.[170] The actress is a supporter of environmental charities and is brand ambassador for NDTV's Greenathon, an initiative to support eco-friendliness and improve electricity supplies to rural villages.[171] She appeared with children in an animated video to support the cause,[172] and removed trash from the banks of the Yamuna river in Agra to increase awareness of environmental issues.[173] Chopra "adopted" a tigress in 2011 and a lioness in 2012 at the Birsa biological park, paying for both animals' upkeep for a year.[174]
Chopra has made appearances in support of other charities, such as the 2005 HELP! Telethon Concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[175] In 2009, she shot a documentary for the organization Alert India to increase understanding of leprosy.[176] She modelled for designer Manish Malhotra and Shaina NC's charity fashion show to raise funds for the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) NGO.[177] To promote organ donation, Chopra pledged to donate her own organs after death[178] and was co-keynote speaker at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Bollywood-themed 20th-anniversary celebration of its liver-transplant program in 2012.
In the media
Chopra at the Big Star Entertainment Awards in 2011
Chopra is one of Bollywood's highest-paid actresses,[46] and is considered one of the most popular Bollywood celebrities in India.[1] After playing strong, independent characters in Fashion (2008), Kaminey (2009), What's Your Raashee? (2009), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011) and Barfi! (2012), she was noted for her versatility in portraying a range of unconventional roles, and her performances in these films led CNN-IBN to describe her "as one of the most powerful actresses in the current lot and someone who doesn't shy away from experimenting with roles within the realms of popular cinema".[180] Chopra has often featured on Rediff.com's annual listing of "Bollywood's Best Actresses".[181] She was ranked second in 2006 and 2008,[182][183] and number one in 2009;[184] she also placed fifth on its list of "Top 10 Actresses of 2000–2010".[185]
Chopra is described as a sex symbol and a style icon.[186] She ranks high on lists of the most powerful, popular and attractive Indian celebrities. Designers Falguni and Shane Peacock wrote, "She is comfortable in her own skin and looks ravishing in whatever she wears, be it a bikini, short or long dress or even a saree."[187] Chopra has embraced the dresses of international designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Alberta Ferretti, and has raised the profiles of young Indian fashion designers by wearing their garments.[188] Chopra's figure, eye colour and lips have been cited by the media as her distinctive physical features.[189] She is known as "Piggy Chops", a nickname given her by co-stars on the set of Bluffmaster! in 2005.[190] In 2006 and 2012, the UK magazine Eastern Eye placed her first on their "World's Sexiest Asian Women" list,[191][192] and she was featured on Verve's list of most powerful women in 2009 and 2010.[193][194] Chopra was ranked first on the Times of India's list of the 50 most-desirable women in 2008, and third the following year.[195] The actress was named "India's Best-Dressed Woman of the Year" by People, and Maxim selected her as "Hottest Girl of the Year" in 2011.[2] The following year, she was declared the most influential Indian on the social-media circuit in a survey conducted by Pinstorm.[196] Chopra appeared on the inaugural cover of India's edition of Maxim,[197] and she and three other Bollywood actors (Shahrukh Khan, Kajol and Hrithik Roshan) had their likenesses made into a series of miniature dolls for Hasbro and the UK-based Bollywood Legends Corporation.[198]
Chopra was declared "queen" of brand endorsements in India, ranking second on the list of brand ambassadors of 2008 (after Shahrukh Khan) in a survey conducted by AdEx India.[199] Manish Porwal of Alchemist Talent Solutions said, “Priyanka is a bigger and more stable brand than before. A lot of what she signed over the years was 'different' when she signed it, but became a norm later. Many clients have renewed their association with her year after year, leaving the competition only hoping and waiting."[46] Chopra has represented many brands, including Pepsi, Nokia, Garnier and Nestle; she was the first female representative of Hero Honda, which until then was endorsed only by male celebrities.[46][200] Verve magazine said that "with high-end brands under her belt, Priyanka Chopra is swiftly emerging as the blue-eyed girl of the silver screen."[201] Her advertising campaign for Hometrade.com with Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan was cited as one of the companies' "biggest advertising campaigns".[202] Chopra was criticised for her involvement with Saif Ali Khan and Neha Dhupia in a 2008 advert for Pond's "White Beauty" Cream, in that in the advert, Chopra loses out to paler-skinned love rival of Khan's affections (Dhupia), but after using the cream to make herself whiter, Chopra is portrayed as becoming more attractive, winning Khan back.[203] Like Aishwarya Rai, she has also featured in adverts for Lux soap.[204] Chopra's influence in the world of fashion and jewellery extends beyond India; as brand ambassador for Asmi by Gitanjali Group, in July 2012 she was asked by Gitanjali to cut the ribbon to mark the opening of their first multi-brand store, in Meena Bazaar, Dubai.[205] In 2009, Chopra became the first Indian actress to cast a foot impression at the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence, Italy, and she received custom-designed shoes from the Ferragamo house.[1]
Although she is known for her media-friendly attitude, Chopra is reticent to discuss details of her personal life in public.[206] The actress has had a Twitter account since January 2009, and has the greatest number of followers of any Indian actress;[46] her website, iampriyankachopra.com, went online in August 2010.
Awards and nominations
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Priyanka Chopra
Among Chopra's film awards are a National Film Award for Best Actress for Fashion (2008)[67] and four Filmfare Awards: Best Female Debut for Andaaz (2003), Best Performance in a Negative Role for Aitraaz (2004), Best Actress for Fashion[42] and Critics Award for Best Actress for 7 Khoon Maaf (2011).[87] On 23 March 2009, Chopra became only the second recipient of the Nielsen Box Office Award for outstanding contribution to Asian film, presented by The Hollywood Reporter during the 3rd Annual Asian Film Awards in Hollywood.
Filmography
Films
Year Film Role Notes
2002 Thamizhan Priya Tamil film
2003 The Hero: Love Story of a Spy Shaheen Zakaria
2003 Andaaz Jiya Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
2004 Plan Rani
2004 Kismat Sapna
2004 Asambhav Alisha
2004 Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Rani Singh
2004 Aitraaz Mrs. Sonia Roy Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
2005 Blackmail Mrs. Rathod
2005 Apuroopam Telugu film
2005 Karam Shalini
2005 Waqt: The Race Against Time Pooja (Mitali)
2005 Yakeen Simar
2005 Barsaat Kajal
2005 Bluffmaster! Simmi Ahuja
2006 Taxi No. 9211 Special appearance
2006 36 China Town Seema Special appearance
2006 Alag Special appearance in song "Sabse Alag"
2006 Krrish Priya
2006 Aap Ki Khatir Anu
2006 Don Roma
2007 Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love Kamini
2007 Big Brother Aarthi Sharma
2007 Om Shanti Om Herself Special appearance in song "Deewangi Deewangi"
2008 My Name is Anthony Gonsalves Herself Special appearance
2008 Love Story 2050 Sana / Zeisha
2008 God Tussi Great Ho Alia Kapoor
2008 Chamku Shubhi
2008 Drona Sonia
2008 Fashion Meghna Mathur National Film Award for Best Actress
Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2008 Dostana Neha Melwani
2009 Billu Herself Special appearance in song "You Get Me Rockin & Reeling"
2009 Kaminey Sweety Shekhar Bhope Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2009 What's Your Raashee? Anjali / Vishakha / Kajal/
Hansa / Mallika / Pooja/
Rajni / Nandini / Bhavna/
Jhankhana / Sanjna / Chandrika 12 Roles
2010 Pyaar Impossible! Alisha Merchant
2010 Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai Herself Special appearance
2010 Anjaana Anjaani Kiara Malhotra
2011 7 Khoon Maaf Susanna Anna-Marie
Johannes Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2011 Ra.One Desi Girl Special appearance
2011 Don 2 Roma
2012 Agneepath Kaali Gawde
2012 Teri Meri Kahaani Rukhsar / Radha / Aradhana
2012 Barfi! Jhilmil Chatterjee Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2013 Deewana Main Deewana Priya
2013 Shootout at Wadala Babli Special appearance in song "Babli Badmaash Hai"
2013 Bombay Talkies Herself Special appearance in song "Apna Bombay Talkies"
2013 Zanjeer Mala Filming
Hindi and Telugu (as Toofan)
2013 Planes Ishani Voice[117]
2013 Krrish 3 Priya Mehra Post-production
2014 Gunday Nandita Filming[119]
2014 Mary Kom Biopic Mary Kom Pre-production[123]
2014 Milan Talkies Pre-production[122]
Television
Year Show Role Channel
2010 Khatron Ke Khiladi Herself – Host Colors
read more at wikipedia
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
post link --- source link
.jpg)
