Introduction

Priyanka Chopra is an epitome of brains, beauty, and brawn combined. Winner of Miss World Pageant (2000), Priyanka's performance as Mary Kom (2014), has won her praise from all quarters, while her songs ‘In My City’ (2012) won her a IMX x3 platinum certification and ‘Exotic’ (2013) that rose to number 18 on US Billboard Dance Electronic Songs list. In the years 2006 and 2012, the UK magazine Eastern Eye ranked her first on their "World's Sexiest Asian Women" list. She frequently writes in newspaper columns about women’s safety and in 2010 she was appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights.

Early Life

Priyanka was born to a Punjabi father (Dr. Ashok Chopra) and Malayali mother (Dr. Madhu Chopra) in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Her parents affectionately called her ‘Mimi’. In her early life, she studied at La Martiniere Girls’ School in Lucknow, before being re-located to Newton North High School in Massachusetts and then to Cedar Rapid's John F. Kennedy High School in Iowa, as her father, an Indian Army doctor was prone to frequent transfers. She finally returned to India and enrolled at Jai Hind College and Basant Institute of Science in Mumbai, but was forced to leave abruptly after she was crowned Miss India World.

Entry into Bollywood

Shortly after being crowned Miss World, Priyanka made her appearance in the Tamil film Thamizhan in 2002. Her debut in Bollywood came with the movie The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003).

After acting in several Bollywood films, she made her voice felt as a playback singer lending her voice for the movie Barsaat (2005) with the song Saajan Saajan Saajan.

In her early days in Bollywood, she managed to get 11 Awards for her performances in movies like The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, Andaaz (2003) Aitraaz (2004), Mujshe Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Krrish (2006).

She became well known for her professionalism and earned the nickname ‘Piggy Chops’ by her co-stars on the sets of Bluffmaster in 2005. Rediff.com ranked her second in 2006 and 2008 in their annual listing of Bollywood’s Best Actresses.

After a string of flop films like Drona (2008) and Love Story 2050 (2008), she reappeared gloriously in the 2008 film Fashion. By 2009, she was number one on the list of Top 10 Actresses 2000-10 on Rediff.com. Her performance in Fashion earned her a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award, an Apsara Award, an IIFA Award and the Screen Award for Best Actress. Soon afterwards, she appeared in another film God Tussi Great Ho (2008) which saw moderate success in the home video circuit.

Her next film in 2008 was Dostana, which the Box Office said, was fresh, frothy, naughty and delightful romantic comedy. The film saw commercial success too, grossing in worldwide revenues of US$ 14million. In the following year, Priyanka played a feisty Marathi woman in the movie Kaminey opposite Shahid Kapoor, in which she received a Filmfare nomination for the Best Actress and won an Apsara Award for Best Actress in a leading role. Her 2010 film Pyaar Impossible was a flop while her other romantic comedy that year Anjaana Anjaani was declared an above average grosser by Box Office India.

In 2011, she acted in the dark comedy 7 Khoon Maaf, based on the short story by Ruskin Bond entitled Susanna’s Seven Husbands, wherein she played the role of an Anglo- Indian woman who murders her seven husbands. Her performance won her a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and nomination for Best Actress at the 57th Filmfare Awards.

The year 2012 saw her acting in Don 2, which earned her positive feedback from critics. Her next film was Agneepath with Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt followed by Barfi (2012). The film Agneepath broke Bollywood’s highest opening day earnings worldwide, grossing over U$ 32 million. She then starred in Teri Meri Kahaani (2012) which brought her mixed reactions from critics.

In 2013, she showed her acting skills in Deewana Main Deewana which was filmed a decade earlier, but received lackluster reviews due to its aged look and feel. Soon, she performed her first item number, Babli Badmaash Hai in a special appearance from the film Shootout at Wadala (2013). In the same year, she reprised her role as Priya in Krrish 3. Priyanka appeared in her next Item number, Ram Chaahe Leela in the movie Goliyon Ki Ras Leela Ram Leela, which took her four days to rehearse a Mujra dance as it featured complicated dance steps.

The year 2014 saw her play the lead role in the action drama Gundey. After this, she acted in the much-awaited biopic Mary Kom, narrating about the five-time world-boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist Mary Kom. Priyanka undertook an intensive four months boxing training to be able to act in this film.

She is currently shooting for the family drama Dil Dhadakne Do, and for a period, romance film entitled Bajiro Mastaani. She will also mark her production debut with the movie Madamji.

Recognitions

Priyanka Chopra has won the Miss India World, Miss World and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty − Asia & Oceania beauty pageants titles in the year of 2000.

Awards

Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards

• Best Actress in a Leading Role for the film Fashion (2009) & Kaminey (2010)

• Entertainer of the Year for the film 7 Khoon Maaf and Don 2 (2012)

• Star of the Year for the film Agneepath and Barfi (2013)

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

• Best Actress for the film Aitraaz (2005)

Bollywood Hungama Surfers' Choice Awards

• Best Actress for Fashion (2009), Kaminey (2010) and Barfi (2013)

Filmfare Awards

• Best Female Debut for Andaaz (2004)

• Best Performance in a Negative Role for Aitraaz (2005)

• Best Actress for Fashion (2009)

• Best Actress (Critics) for 7 Khoon Maaf (2012)

International Indian Film Academy Awards

• Best On-Screen Beauty for Krrish (2007)

• Best Actress for Fashion (2009)

• Contribution to a Greener Earth in 2011

• Woman Of Substance in 2014

Lions Gold Awards

• Favorite Actor in a Leading Role – Female for Fashion 2009

• Favorite Popular Film Actor – Female for Anjaana Anjaani 2011

• Favorite Actor in a Leading Role – Female for Don 2 2012

• Favorite Actor in a Leading Role – Female for Barfi 2013

National Film Awards

• Best Actress for the film Fashion in 2008

People's Choice Awards India

• Favorite International Music Debut for her song "In My City" in 2012

Screen Awards 

• Best Villain for Aitraaz in 2005

• Best Actress for Fashion in 2009

• Best Villain – Female for 7 Khoon Maaf in 2012

• Jodi No. 1 (along with Shahrukh Khan) for Don 2 in 2012

• Jodi No. 1 (along with Ranbir Kapoor) for Barfi in 2013

South African Indian Film and Television Awards

• Best Actress for Barfi in 2013

Zee Cine Awards

• Best Actor – Female for Barfi in 2013

• International Female Icon in 2014