Actor Priyanka Chopra, who began her journey in Bollywood before becoming a global name in Hollywood, recently reflected on the struggles that shaped her career. Speaking at the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi, she revealed that the early years in the industry were driven more by survival than choice.
Priyanka said that she did not grow up with the privilege of picking and choosing projects. In fact, she recalled a time when “opportunities were taken away” from her, especially after a difficult phase where six of her films failed one after another. The industry’s hesitation to cast her pushed her to rethink her path. “I had to pivot because of fear and survival,” she explained, adding that she was compelled to create her own opportunities rather than wait for them.
Reflecting on her early struggles, Priyanka shared that she once said yes to everything because getting work itself felt like a privilege. Constant travel, packed schedules and missing family milestones became part of her life because turning down offers never felt like an option. Today, she says the situation is different. She now chooses projects “with intention,” keeping her family, mental balance and long-term goals at the centre of her decisions.
After her Miss World 2000 win, Priyanka delivered acclaimed performances in films such as Fashion, Aitraaz, Barfi! and Mary Kom, eventually becoming one of Bollywood’s leading stars.The actor now looks forward to two major releases S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi, co-starring Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran, set for Sankranti 2027, and the second season of the action thriller Citadel.
