In a candid conversation with The Zoe Project that released on Tuesday, Bollywood icon-turned-Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, 40, shed light on a troubling episode she faced during her early acting career.
The Citadel actress, who recently dazzled in a ruby-red ensemble at the Bulgari party in Venice, spoke about an ‘inhuman moment’ that marked a defining moment in her Bollywood journey.
Around 2002 or 2003, Priyanka recalled, she was cast as an undercover agent for a film. Discussing the role, she said: “I’m undercover, I’m seducing the guy – obviously that’s what girls do when they’re undercover. But I’m seducing the guy and you have to take off a piece of cloth [at a time],
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The situation took a tragic turn when the director insisted on seeing her in her underwear, a demand she told the stylist right in front of Priyanka. “It was such a dehumanizing moment,” shared Priyanka, revealing how she felt objectified and rejected, stripped away as a mere commodity rather than a talented actress contributing to the arts.
A few days later, unable to come to terms with the situation, she walked out of the film. Nevertheless, at the insistence of his father, he reimbursed the production from his own pocket for the expenses incurred. He said the idea of facing the director every day became unbearable.
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The Miss World 2000 winner elaborated on her departure from Bollywood during an appearance on Dan Shepherd’s Armchair Expert podcast earlier this year. Priyanka acknowledged her weariness with politics and cliques within the industry that used to influence casting decisions. However, his passion for music offered an escape route and took him to America.
In her interview with The Zoe Report, Priyanka acknowledged the fleeting period of her music career, saying: “I felt like I sounded manufactured, it didn’t come from a real authentic place. That’s the best music, that’s that’s music i enjoy listening to [to],
© GettyHer initial phase in America was challenging, but her persistence paved the way for notable roles, such as her stint on ABC’s hit series Quantico that aired from 2015 to 2019.
In 2018, the Quantico star found her fairytale ending by marrying former Disney star Nick Jonas.
© Getty ImagesThe couple welcomed their daughter Malti in January 2022 through surrogacy. Despite a difficult initial period in the NICU, her baby girl was able to come home shortly before Mother’s Day.
The face of Bulgari shared a heartfelt detail about their marriage, expressing their similarities and mutual support. “We are hustlers, we are not afraid of hard work, we are not afraid to pivot. I am someone who is ready to learn something that I don’t know. And so is Nick,” she confided.
© Getty ImagesIn a conversation with Grazia earlier this month, Priyanka reflected on her career and shared that she does not consider herself as someone who has made it.
Despite her struggles and moments of wanting to quit, her persistence has rewarded her with a lead role in the Amazon Prime series Citadel, which premiered in April and has just been renewed for a second season.
© InstagramLooking to the future, Priyanka expressed her desire for roles that would allow her to fully immerse herself in the character. Meanwhile, her husband Nick Jonas is also busy with his upcoming The Jonas Brothers tour with brothers Joe and Kevin, starting this August.
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