Priyanka Chopra breaks down Bollywood politics: 'I pivot, I don’t settle'
Global icon Priyanka Chopra recently shared candid insights about her career journey and handling challenging relationships in the film industry during an appearance on Amanda Hirsch’s podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat.
She reflected on her decision to explore opportunities in Hollywood after achieving success in Bollywood.
Priyanka explained that while working in India, she often felt constrained and wanted to explore what the world beyond offered. “When I was in India, I started feeling limited… I wanted to see what else was out there. Besides Mindy Kaling and Aishwarya Rai, there were very few Indian actors in Hollywood,” she said.
The lack of representation reminded her of her teenage years in the U.S., when she was one of the few who looked like her. This inspired her to take a leap and pursue work in the American film industry.
When asked about navigating tense relationships in Bollywood, Priyanka revealed her philosophy: “Nothing is an easy ride. We all have battles to face. I just don’t like staying in the s**t because then you get used to the smell. I believe in pivoting. When life gets tough, humans are resilient. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, feel the pain, and then move forward.”
She added that she has applied this mindset many times throughout her career, especially when venturing into Hollywood, where there was little precedent for Indian actors at the time.
Priyanka made her mark in the U.S. with the lead role in ABC’s Quantico in 2015 and later appeared in films like Baywatch (2017), Matrix: Resurrections, Citadel, Love Again, and Isn’t It Romantic. Today, she resides in the United States with her husband Nick Jonas and their daughter Malti Marie, continuing to break barriers and inspire audiences worldwide.