Priyanka Chopra (born 18 July 1982) is an Indian actress, singer-songwriter and former Miss World. Before starting her acting career, she worked as a model and gained fame after winning the Miss World title in 2000. She is often referred to by the nickname “Piggy Chops“, which was given to her by co-stars on the set of the film Bluffmaster! During her career, Chopra has received a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards, among seven nominations.
Making her acting debut with the 2002 Tamil film Thamizhan, Chopra made her Bollywood film debut with The Hero in 2003 and followed it with the hit Andaaz, for which she won a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She subsequently earned critical acclaim for her performance in Aitraaz, and later appeared in the commercially successful projects: Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Krrish (2006) and Don (2006).
2008 marked the beginning of a new phase in Chopra’s career as her portrayal of a troubled model in Fashion earned her a National Film Award, as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She was later noted for her performances in Kaminey (2009), What’s Your Raashee? (2009) and 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), which garnered her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. Having done so, Chopra established herself as one of the leading contemporary actresses in Bollywood.
In addition to movie acting, Chopra is a trained western singer. She signed a worldwide recording agreement with Universal Music Group and DesiHits to record and release her first music album. Her first single “In My City” will debut on September 13th 2012 at the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football Kick-off match.
priyanka Priyanka Chopra
Actress Priyanka Chopra
Personal Profile (Personal Biography): Priyanka Chopra
Nick Name: Sunshine, Mimi, Yanka
Date of Birth (Birthday): 18 July, 1982
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Height: 5’8?
Weight: 53 Kgs
Chest: 35
Waist: 24
Hip: 34
Hair Color: Black
Birth Place: Jamshedpur
Marital Status: Single
Languages: Hindi, English
Hobbies: Singing, writing poetry
Contact Address: 803, Karan Next to Green Acres, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, Mumbai 400053
Family Background
Father’s Name: Capt. Dr. Ashok Chopra
Mother’s Name: Dr. Madhu Chopra
Film Background (Filmography)
Debut Film: Thamizhan
Famous Movies: Bluffmaster, Krrish, Barsaat, Yakeen, Waqt, Karam, Blackmail, Aitraaz, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Asambhav, Kismat, Plan, Andaaz, The Hero, Thamizhan
Latest Movies: Bluffmaster, Krrish
Upcoming Movies: Happy New Year, Don
Favourites:
Favourite Actor: Kishore Kumar
Favourite Actress: Sushmita Sen and Indira Gandhi
Favourite Hollywood Actor: Mel Gibson
Favourite Hollywood Movies: Pretty Woman, Walk in the Clouds
Favourite Cloths: Sari
Likes: R&B Music, Fudge and Hot Chocolate, Bulging Biceps
Hobbies: Singing, writing poetry
Fashion and recent work
After a series of flops, Chopra was cast in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion (2008) for the lead role of Meghna Mathur. Revolving around the fashion world through Chopra’s role of an ambitious model, the film was a critical success. Her performance in the film was appreciated and earned her several awards for Best Actress including the National Film Award for Best Actress, as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Subhash K Jha said of her performance, “Her transformation from the bubbly Chandigarh girl to the super-ambitious supermodel, who dumps her boyfriend and conscience to pursue her dreams, is achieved with a gentle subtlety and bridled passion. This is Priyanka’s coming-of-age film. She looks like a zillion bucks. And acts like a woman who connects with the darkest, most desperate human emotions without wallowing in them.” Rajeev Masand wrote, “Chopra turns in a respectable performance, one that will inevitably go down as her best.” The film became a major turning point in her career. Chopra’s final release of the year was Tarun Mansukhani’s romantic comedy Dostana alongside Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham. The film explores the story of two men who pretend to be gay, so that they can rent an apartment from an older lady. Both the men fall in love with the same girl, their roommate, but are unable to express their feelings because she is related to the old landlady. The film was a financial success and went on to become the eight-highest grossing film at the Indian box office in 2008. Chopra received positive reviews for her performance. Khalid Mohamed wrote, “Priyanka Chopra is in form, pretty convincing as a working woman who’s trying to deal with professional pressures.” She was also praised for her overall look in the film.
In 2009, she appeared in Vishal Bhardwaj’s caper thriller Kaminey alongside Shahid Kapoor, playing the role of a feisty Marathi girl named Sweety. The film was a critical and commercial success. Her performance received positive reviews with Taran Adarsh describing it as “first-rate”, He further stated, “She’s so much in sync with her character… [and] gets the Maharashtrian accent perfect”. Anupama Chopra wrote, “Sweety is this year’s most exciting heroine after Paro in Dev D, and Priyanka plays her with aplomb.”
Her work in the film brought her several awards and nominations including a Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination and a second consecutive Apsara Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She subsequently appeared in Ashutosh Gowariker‘s romantic comedy What’s Your Raashee?, a film which made Chopra the first actress in cinema history to portray 12 distinct characters in one film. She was reportedly being considered for inclusion in the upcoming edition of Guinness World Records for this feat. The film itself was a financial and critical failure, but Chopra’s performance was appreciated by the critics. Rediff wrote, “Priyanka Chopra transforms into 12 new skins with astonishing distinction, voice and spirit. The actress reinvents herself into this unique individual every single time ranging from batty, bashful and boisterous. This is simply her show.” Film critic Subhash K Jha noted,
“It’s an amazing achievement. Priyanka Chopra gives soul to all the 12 characters she plays. In the climactic song, she brings all of them together, quirks and mannerisms all on display in one unified flow of feelings and body-language. The actress achieves individuality for all her characters while giving the plot a homogenous flow.”
In 2010, Chopra appeared in Jugal Hansraj‘s Pyaar Impossible! opposite Uday Chopra where she portrayed the role of a college beauty who eventually falls in love with a geek. The film was a commercial and critical failure. Her next release, Siddharth Anand‘s Anjaana Anjaani alongside Ranbir Kapoor, got a good initial response at the box office, but was not well received by the critics. She received positive to mixed comments from critics for her performance. Komal Nahta mentioned, “Priyanka Chopra looks sexy and performs well.”
Chopra’s first release of 2011 was Vishal Bhardwaj’s black comedy 7 Khoon Maaf, in which she portrayed the role of Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, an Anglo-Indian woman who murders her seven husbands in an unending quest for love. The film was a commercial failure and received mixed response from the critics, however her performance received good reviews. Mayank Shekhar wrote, “For Priyanka Chopra, who plays the Anglo-Indian protagonist, this is unquestionably a role of a lifetime. She has you by the eyeballs.” and Nikhat Kazmi from The Times of India noted, “7 Khoon Maaf would undoubtedly end up as a milestone in Priyanka Chopra’s career graph. The actor displays exquisite command over a complex character that is definitely a first in Indian cinema. She renders a subtle and restrained portrayal of a lonely and wronged woman who wanted love and only love from life.” Chopra eventually earned the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination along with a few other awards at other ceremonies.
Her next release was Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2 alongside Shahrukh Khan, in which she reprised her role of Roma. The film was a sequel to the 2006 action thriller Don. Upon release, while Indian critics gave positive to mixed reviews, overseas film critics praised it. Chopra’s performance received positive feedback from the overseas critics with the reviewer from The Express Tribune writing, “Priyanka Chopra pulls of her role with aplomb and seems to be the perfect choice for an action heroine. As you watch her effortlessly beat up some thugs in the movie, you come to the realisation that she may be the first proper female action hero in Bollywood. I wouldn’t be surprised if her next venture is as the next Lara Croft or the fourth Charlie’s Angel.” A review carried by Divanee South Asian News mentioned, “Chopra surprises with a Lara Croft-esque demeanor. It is so refreshing to finally see a female character kick ass and take names in a Hindi film. The actress can easily add this to her growing repertoire, alongside “Fashion”, “Kaminey” and “7 Khoon Maaf”.”
The film was a major success in India and a blockbuster overseas. It went on to break multiple box-office records in India and overseas, including highest opening day grosser ever on a non-holiday Friday and the highest grossing Bollywood movie overseas in 2011.
In early 2012, Chopra became the first Bollywood actor to be signed by Creative Artists Agency, a prominent entertainment and sports agency headquartered in Los Angeles. The agency will handle her acting career in Hollywood. Her first release of the year was Karan Johar’s Agneepath alongside Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt and Rishi Kapoor. The film was a remake of the 1990 classic of the same name. Upon release, the film broke the highest opening day collections record and became a critical and commercial success. Her performance in the film was appreciated by most critics. Mayank Shekhar noted, “Chopra stands out in a male-centric movie.” and Komal Nahta wrote, “Chopra shines in a comparatively short role. She makes the character of Kaali very endearing. Her dances are extremely graceful and she shines in emotional scenes.” Her next release was Kunal Kohli’s Teri Meri Kahaani, a love story set in three different eras. The film opened to mixed reactions from critics, however Chopra’s performance and her chemistry with co-star Shahid Kapoor received good reviews. Sonia Chopra of Sify wrote, “Priyanka delivers a superb performance easily slipping in-and-out of the layered characters with dexterity.” Taran Adarsh commented, “As the spirited Aradhana of 1910, the dazzling movie star Rukhsar of 1960 or the joyful Radha of 2012, Priyanka is a complete livewire in each of the acts. On a personal level, I liked her the most as Aradhana, a full-on Punjabi girl who’s vivacious and bubbly. What also makes the film work is the chemistry the two actors share. They appear exceptionally comfy with each other and bring to the table what the spectators are looking for.” However, despite the positive critical acclaim, the film failed to do well at the Indian box office, although was a moderate success in the overseas markets.
As of June 2012, Chopra is set to star in Anurag Basu’s Barfi! alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Ileana, in which she portrays the character of an autistic woman. In an effort to get into the skin of the character, she had to visit and spend time with autistic people. The movie is scheduled for release in September 2012. She is currently filming Krrish 3 alongside Hrithik Roshan, Vivek Oberoi and Kangna Ranaut in which she is respring her role of Priya. The film is a sequel to the 2006 superhero film Krrish. She has also signed Apoorva Lakhia‘s Zanjeer opposite Ram Charan Teja who is making his Bollywood debut. It is a remake of the Hindi 1973 film of the same name.
Filmography
2002 Thamizhan Priya Tamil film
2003 The Hero: Love Story of a Spy Shaheen Zakaria
2003 Andaaz Jiya Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
2004 Plan Rani
2004 Kismat Sapna
2004 Asambhav Alisha
2004 Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Rani Singh
2004 Aitraaz Mrs. Sonia Roy Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
2005 Blackmail Mrs. Rathod
2005 Karam Shalini
2005 Waqt: The Race Against Time Pooja (Mitali)
2005 Yakeen Simar
2005 Barsaat Kajal
2005 Bluffmaster! Simmi Ahuja
2006 Taxi No. 9211 Special appearance
2006 36 China Town Seema Special appearance
2006 Alag Special appearance in song “Sabse Alag”
2006 Krrish Priya
2006 Aap Ki Khatir Anu
2006 Don Roma
2007 Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love Kamini
2007 Big Brother Aarthi Sharma
2007 Om Shanti Om Herself Special appearance in song “Deewangi Deewangi”
2008 My Name is Anthony Gonsalves Herself Special appearance
2008 Love Story 2050 Sana / Zeisha
2008 God Tussi Great Ho Alia Kapoor
2008 Chamku Shubhi
2008 Drona Sonia
2008 Fashion Meghna Mathur National Film Award for Best Actress
Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2008 Dostana Neha Melwani
2009 Billu Herself Special appearance in song “You Get Me Rockin & Reeling”
2009 Kaminey Sweety Shekhar
Bhope Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2009 What’s Your Raashee? 12 roles Anjali / Vishakha / Kajal / Hansa / Mallika / Pooja / Rajni /
Nandini / Bhavna / Jhankhana / Sanjna / Chandrika
2010 Pyaar Impossible! Alisha Merchant
2010 Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai Herself Special appearance
2010 Anjaana Anjaani Kiara Malhotra
2011 7 Khoon Maaf Susanna Anna-Marie
Johannes Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2011 Ra.One Desi Girl Special appearance
2011 Don 2 Roma
2012 Agneepath Kaali Gawde
2012 Teri Meri Kahaani 3 roles Rukhsar / Radha / Aradhana
2012 Barfi! Jhilmil Sengupta Post-production
2012 Deewana Main Deewana Post-production
2013 Krrish 3 Priya Mehra Filming
2013 Zanjeer Mala Filming
