The Citadel actress shared that during the shoot of a film, she had a distressing encounter with the director.
Priyanka Chopra on the sets of Gunday.
Priyanka Chopra, a global star with an illustrious career in both Bollywood and Hollywood, once opened up about a disturbing incident from the early days of her acting journey. Speaking at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit, Priyanka recalled a shocking and “dehumanising” experience when she was just 19 years old and new to the film industry.
The Citadel actress shared that during the shoot of a film, she had a distressing encounter with the director. “I was speaking to the director and I said, would you speak to my stylist and just explain to him what you want in terms of clothes and stuff. I’m standing right next to him,” Priyanka said.
Recalling the director’s comments, she continued, “He picks up the phone and goes, ‘Listen, people are going to come into the movies to watch her when she shows her panties. So it needs to be really short so that I can see her panties. You know those people sitting up front? They should be able to see her panties.’ And he said it like four times. And it’s not even pretty in Hindi. It’s worse.”
Priyanka, who was just 18 or 19 at the time, was heartbroken by the incident. “I went back home that night and said, ‘Mom, I can’t look at his face. If that’s what he thinks of me, if that’s how small I am, there’s no space for growth.’ And I just walked out of the movie and said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t work.’ And I’ve till date never worked with him.”
She continued, “Whatever I decide to be will be my choice. How I want to be perceived will be my choice. Perception is reality and my perception is going to be my identity.”
This wasn’t the first time Priyanka spoke about the struggles she faced in her career. She previously recounted a “dark phase” following a surgery to remove a nasal polyp that altered her appearance, leading to severe mental health struggles.
Speaking on The Howard Stern Show on May 1, Priyanka said, “This thing happens, and my face looks completely different, and I went into a deep, deep depression.”
Priyanka credited her father, Ashok Chopra, and Bollywood director Anil Sharma for helping her overcome that challenging period and rebuild her confidence in the industry.
