Priyanka Chopra’s rise as a global star may seem seamless today, but her journey to the West was far from smooth. Her manager, Anjula Acharia, has now spoken about the skepticism and resistance they faced while trying to introduce Priyanka to Hollywood, long before her international breakthrough.
Appearing on The Ok Sweetie Show, Anjula reflected on the early days when she was pitching Priyanka as a potential star in the US. She revealed that many people dismissed the idea, openly questioning whether a “brown Bollywood star” could ever break into the American entertainment industry. According to Anjula, she was often laughed at and even called “crazy” and “stupid” for believing in the possibility.
During that uncertain phase, Anjula admitted she had moments of self-doubt. She recalled turning to music executive Jimmy Iovine for reassurance, sharing how people were discouraging her. Jimmy’s response stayed with her, as he reminded her that he too had been called crazy when he wanted to launch Eminem, a move that later proved to be historic. The conversation helped her trust her instincts and continue pushing forward.
Priyanka, who had already established herself as a leading name in Bollywood, took a major step towards the West with the lead role in ABC’s Quantico. The show opened doors for her in Hollywood, followed by her film debut in Baywatch. She went on to appear in several international projects, including Isn’t It Romantic, The Matrix: Resurrections, Citadel and Love Again.
Today, Priyanka lives in the US with her husband Nick Jonas and their daughter, Malti Marie, standing as a rare example of a Bollywood star who successfully crossed over despite early doubts.
