New York: Priyanka Chopra, a prominent figure in both Bollywood and Hollywood, has never shied away from discussing the challenges she has encountered in her career. In a recent appearance on the Read The Room podcast, she delved into the topic of rejection, shedding light on her experiences of being passed over for roles, sometimes in favor of someone’s girlfriend.
Speaking frankly, Chopra expressed, “It’s hard. Especially in a job based on validation. Whether it is how many people come and watch your movie or what your director thinks about your performance or what your casting agent thinks, it is all subjective.” She acknowledged the multitude of reasons for rejection in the industry, ranging from suitability for the role to favoritism, highlighting instances where personal connections influenced casting decisions.
Reflecting on her journey, Chopra emphasized the importance of acknowledging and processing rejection. “I made peace a long time ago. It is real. We can all say ‘I am better than that, I am confident’. It is not true. You have to allow yourself to feel the rejection. It’s like grieving. I am someone who does it. I will move on. I will brush it aside. A long time ago, I came to peace with rejection at work,” she remarked.
This candid discussion echoes Chopra’s previous revelations about her decision to take a hiatus from Bollywood due to the industry’s politics. Speaking on Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert, she admitted feeling sidelined and fatigued by the machinations of the industry. “I had people not casting me, I had beef with people, I am not good at playing that game so I kind of was tired of the politics and I said I needed a break,” she disclosed.
Chopra’s career trajectory took a significant turn when she ventured into Hollywood in 2012, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with diverse opportunities. Over the years, she has secured roles in acclaimed projects such as Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, and the television series Quantico. Her upcoming venture, the action comedy Head of State, promises to further solidify her status as a leading actress, alongside stars like Idris Elba and John Cena.
Additionally, Chopra has made significant contributions to the Indian film industry through her production house, Purple Pebble Pictures. Established in 2015, the company has garnered praise for its projects, including the documentary To Kill a Tiger, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film in 2022, and the Marathi film Paani, which received the National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation in 2019.
