Priyanka Chopra shared that her early career was challenging, recalling a period when six of her films failed one after another. She explained how those setbacks shaped her resilience and future success.
UAE: Priyanka Chopra Reflects on Struggling Start with Six Consecutive Movie Flops
The actress shared at the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi that the major turns in her career, which now seem intentional, were actually not choices she consciously made at the time.Priyanka Chopra began her entertainment career in 2000 after winning an international beauty pageant while still in her late teens, soon entering Indian cinema with a string of film roles. About fifteen years into her Bollywood journey, she stepped into the American TV industry with Quantico, which paved the way for several Hollywood projects. She is one of the few Indian actresses to establish a solid foothold in Hollywood while still taking on occasional roles back home. Though her path may appear seamless from the outside, Priyanka insists the transition was far from effortless.During her talk at the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Priyanka explained that the biggest shifts in her 25-year career were motivated by “survival.” She remembered a phase in her early days when “six films failed one after another,” pushing her to rethink her path and reshape her career.
The 43-year-old actress noted that the career moves which now appear intentional were, at the time, anything but planned. “I was simply trying to figure out my next step,” she said.
Chopra shared that she has constantly resisted being confined to one label. “The moment you achieve something, people try to limit you,” she said, explaining that she has had to continually prove she is capable of much more.
She reflected on her twenties, a period when she accepted nearly every opportunity because she didn’t have the luxury of turning work down. The nonstop schedule meant missing important family moments. “Today, I finally have the freedom to choose,” she said. “I’m living on the other side of all that sacrifice.”
Challenging the concept of nonstop ‘hustle’, she added, “Working hard is important, but you can’t be in hustle mode constantly. Everything has its right moment.”
Chopra explained that her current decisions are shaped by what she is willing to endure — whether it’s constant travel or long periods away from loved ones. “You won’t always get it right,” she said. “All you can do is give your best in the present.”
