Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas founded Purple Pebble Pictures in 2015 as a “Plan B” while transitioning to Hollywood. Her mother, Madhu Chopra, a doctor and co-runner of the production house, recently revealed on the Something Bigger Show podcast how the venture originated. “When Priyanka decided to work in Hollywood, I suggested she create a fallback plan in India to stay confident and worry-free,” Madhu shared.
What began as a safety net has flourished into a platform for regional cinema and emerging talent. The company’s first production, the Bhojpuri film Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi (2016), was followed by the critically acclaimed Marathi film Ventilator, which won three National Film Awards. Priyanka’s vision of promoting new voices has been the cornerstone of Purple Pebble Pictures.
In 2018, the company produced Pahuna: The Little Visitors, a Nepali film marking actor-casting director Paakhi Tyrewala’s directorial debut. Its 2019 Marathi film Paani earned the National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation. The company has also ventured into Punjabi, Assamese, and English films.
Priyanka herself starred in two of her productions, The Sky Is Pink (2019) and The White Tiger (2020). Her latest release as a producer, Barry Avrich’s English film Born Hungry, debuted earlier this year. Purple Pebble Pictures stands as a testament to Priyanka’s commitment to uplifting new talent and diversifying Indian cinema.