Priyanka Chopra Opens Up About Feeling 'Cornered' in Bollywood Before Hollywood Transition
Global superstar Priyanka Chopra has candidly revealed the challenging phase in her career when she felt constrained and cornered within the Hindi film industry, ultimately leading to her strategic move to Hollywood. In a recent interview on Jay Shetty's podcast On Purpose, the actress discussed the emotional and professional struggles that prompted her cross-continental career shift.
The Bollywood Struggle: Feeling Limited and Cornered
Priyanka Chopra, whose latest film The Bluff has recently released, described the movie industry as a difficult environment for everyone. "Surviving in the movie industry is tough for everyone, it is not an easy place," she stated. "It is political, networky, it is about the moment, it is fleeting."
The actress went on to explain her personal experience of feeling trapped within the Bollywood system. "I did feel like I was in a place where I was cornered, work was limited, and in order to survive emotionally, mentally, physically, I just needed to move," she confessed. This realization came despite her successful track record in Hindi cinema, where she had established herself as one of the industry's top stars.
The Pragmatic Decision for Career Longevity
Chopra revealed that staying exclusively within Hindi films appeared to lack the career longevity she desired. "I was in this place where I was doing good work, but I didn't see the longevity that I wanted in my situation at that time," she explained. This pragmatic assessment of her career prospects became a crucial factor in her decision to explore opportunities beyond Bollywood.
The actress described movement and change as her personal coping mechanisms during challenging periods. "That has always been my answer. I am not someone who stays stagnant. I need movement to solve my problems. And this time it happens to be across continents. I moved to a completely different country," she elaborated.
The International Music Phase: A Creative Lifeline
Well before her major American television breakthrough with Quantico in 2015, Priyanka Chopra had already begun building her international profile through music collaborations. Between 2012 and 2014, she appeared in global singles and music videos including:
- In My City (2012)
- Exotic
- I Can't Make You Love Me
These projects featured collaborations with international stars like Pitbull and will.i.am, marking her first significant steps into the global entertainment arena.
Reflecting on how this musical phase reignited her creativity, Chopra described it as a transformative experience. "The universe just kind of timed itself together. I was feeling very limited in my work in Hindi movies and I felt I didn't have a direction. This was like an Olive branch," she recalled.
A Breath of Fresh Air: The Pop Star Era
Priyanka Chopra described her collaborations with international musicians as deeply refreshing during a period when she felt creatively stifled. "I was blown away by being in the studio with Will.I.AM, Pitbull, and The Chainsmokers," she shared. "I met the most incredible people during this two year pop star era of mine. It was such a welcome change. It was a breath of fresh air. I was feeling like I was drowning, and I was suddenly pulled out, and I could breathe."
This international exposure not only expanded her creative horizons but also provided the momentum she needed to transition successfully from Bollywood to Hollywood, establishing herself as a truly global entertainment figure.
