Priyanka Chopra, who won the prestigious Miss World pageant in 2000, is an accomplished actor, singer and media personality in India. Born in Jamshedpur to physicians in the Indian Army, she has lived in many parts of the country but considers Bareilly home.
As a teenager, she lived in Massachusetts with her aunt and participated in several theatre productions. She also studied Western classical music, choral singing and Kathak. Chopra was the only Indian in her class to have been selected at the State level for the National Opus Honour Choir. However, by sophomore year, she was keen on becoming a software engineer or a criminal psychologist, rather than a performer.
Chopra made her acting debut in the Tamil film, Thamizhan (2002). Her first Hindi movie was The Hero (2003), followed by the box-office success, Andaaz (2003), which won her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award along with a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. She subsequently earned wide critical recognition for the role of a seductress in the 2004 thriller, Aitraaz, winning her the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. By 2006, Chopra had established herself as a leading actress of Hindi cinema, while starring roles in the highly successful films, Krrish and Don. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful, talented and charismatic women in India, she has evolved as an actress and gained much critical acclaim for her portrayal of unconventional characters, including a troubled model in Fashion (2008), a feisty Marathi woman in the caper thriller, Kaminey (2009), a serial killer in 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), and an autistic woman in the romantic comedy, Barfi! (2012).
A multifaceted and talented artist, she is a brand ambassador, a style icon and has launched three music albums. Priyanka Chopra is also one of India’s most famous and powerful women, actively involving herself in television, stage performances and social projects.
Born on: 18 July, 1982
Born in: Jamshedpur, India
Height: 5'7"
Nickname(s): Mimi, Piggy Chops, PC