Interesting Facts and Figures : Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka Chopra is yet another beauty queen who has entered films. A former Miss World, she is one of the most popular actresses in the Hindi film industry scenario today starring in some of the biggest films made over the last couple of years. Though she still has some way to go as an actress, there is no doubt she is an absolute stunner in the looks and body department. 

Birthday: 18th July, 1982 in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

Debut Film: She debuted with a Tamil film, Thamizhan (2002). However, her Bollywood debut was with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2002).

Major Impact: Aitraaz (2003).

Successful Films: The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2002), Andaaz (2003), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2003), Aitraaz (2003), Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005), Bluffmaster (2005), Don (2006), Krrish (2006), Fashion (2008), Dostana (2008).

Awards: Winner of the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Fashion (2008).

Upcoming Films: Kaminey and What’s Your Rashee? 

Facts we didn’t know:

Her dad is Punjabi-speaking, while her mom is from Bihar. As a child, she suffered from Asthma and was very close to her dad. Her family affectionately called her Mimi.

While she was born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, she also spent her childhood in Rae Barreilly, in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Lucknow, where she was enrolled in the La Martiniere Girls’ School. These frequent re-locations took place as Ashok was a doctor in the Indian Army. She subsequently re-located to the U.S. where she studied in Newton’s Newton North High School and then in Cedar Rapid’s John F. Kennedy High School in Massachusetts and Iowa respectively.

In 2000 she returned to India and enrolled in Jai Hind College and Basant Singh Institute of Science in Churchgate, Bombay, but had to leave abruptly as she was crowned Miss India. She was subsequently crowned Miss World in the same year - a year which proved to be a year for Indian Beauty Queens - as Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza were also crowned Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific respectively. Ironically, beauty pageants are banned in India’s conservative state, Uttar Pradesh.

While shooting the song "Do Me A Favor, Let’s Play Holi" in the movie Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005), she stepped on a live wire and received a shock. She was hospitalized for a day.

Did her schooling from La Martinière in Lucknow. She completed tenth grade in Boston and wanted to become a software engineer or a criminal psychologist.

Turned down the lead in Umrao Jaan (2006) to work in Bluffmaster! (2005).

Listed as number 2 of ‘Top Bollywood Actresses’ of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25-2006)

Turned down a part in London Dreams (2009) because she could not provide the shooting dates as she was busy with other films.

Listed #1 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia’s Sexiest Women" (Sept/2006).

Appeared on the cover of the premiere issue of Maxim magazine, Indian version, released in 2006.

- SAMPURN