Transitioning from Bollywood superstardom to establishing a name in Hollywood is no easy feat, but Priyanka Chopra took on the challenge with fearless determination. After conquering the Hindi film industry, she set her sights on global stardom — a move that came with uncertainty, skepticism, and countless behind-the-scenes struggles.
Priyanka’s breakthrough moment arrived when she signed a talent deal with ABC Studios and landed the lead role of Alex Parrish in the American thriller series Quantico. When the show premiered in 2015, it made history, with Priyanka becoming the first South Asian actor to headline an American network drama series. While audiences worldwide celebrated her rise as an international star, few knew the difficult journey that led to that moment.
Her longtime manager, Anjula Acharia, recently opened up about those early days and the doubts they faced. Speaking on The Ok Sweetie Show, Anjula revealed that many in the industry questioned whether a “brown Bollywood star” could ever break into American television. Some even called her decision to back Priyanka “crazy.” Recalling a moment of uncertainty, Anjula said she turned to Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, for reassurance. His response stayed with her — he reminded her that people once thought he was crazy for wanting to launch a white rapper named Eminem. The comparison strengthened her belief that groundbreaking success always starts with disbelief.
Anjula also shared how humbling Priyanka’s initial Hollywood journey was. She described attending meetings where they were introduced not to decision-makers, but to “the assistant of the assistant.” The experience, she admitted, was heartbreaking. She painted a powerful picture: being with “the Beyoncé of a country” while no one in the room knew who she was. Priyanka would politely introduce herself, saying, “You don’t know who I am, but I’m Priyanka Chopra,” as they sat in cafeterias for small meetings. Despite the situation, Priyanka remained poised, professional, and ego-free — a quality that deeply impressed her manager.
Working closely with Priyanka, Anjula said, taught her valuable lessons in humility and perseverance. She revealed that there were moments when she felt Priyanka deserved better treatment, but the actress would insist on doing the hard work anyway, refusing to believe she was above any opportunity.
Today, Priyanka Chopra stands as a global icon. On the work front, she will next appear in the R-rated pirate adventure The Bluff, playing Bloody Mary alongside Karl Urban. The film is set to premiere on Prime Video on February 25.
She is also preparing for a grand return to Indian cinema with S.S. Rajamouli’s ambitious project Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran — proving that her journey across continents is only getting stronger.
