‘Priyanka Chopra is best thing to come out of India after yoga’: Manager Anjula Acharia recalls seven years of struggle before ‘Quantico’ breakthrough |
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has established herself as a global star after transitioning from Bollywood to Hollywood. Her longtime manager, Anjula Acharia, who has played an important role in guiding her international career, has now opened up about the years of hard work that preceded her breakthrough in the US. Priyanka is now preparing to return to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli’s Mahesh Babu-led ‘Varanasi’. She is also set to appear alongside Russell Crowe in the sci-fi action thriller ‘Bluefly’, continuing her work across Indian and international projects.
Priyanka Chopra’s Hollywood breakthrough came after years of work
Priyanka made her Hollywood debut in 2015 as the lead of Joshua Safran’s series ‘Quantico’. The show became a major turning point for the actor and helped establish her as a prominent Indian face in the American entertainment industry.However, according to her manager Anjula Acharia, the success did not happen overnight. Acharia revealed that she and Priyanka spent seven years working towards creating the right opportunities before ‘Quantico’ finally changed the trajectory of her career.“With Priyanka, people are like, ‘Oh my god, she was an overnight success.’ She was not! We worked really hard for seven years before she was on Quantico and broke out and was on the cover of Vogue and Vanity Fair. We were hustling for a long time,” Anjula revealed during a conversation with influencer Masoom Minawala.Acharia also recalled what initially made Priyanka stand out to her and why she believed the actor had the potential to succeed internationally.“I saw Priyanka on television years before I went to India and convinced her to come back to America with me. But I saw something really special in her. Yet, I’ll be very honest with you, if when I met her, and that hadn’t come through, it wouldn’t have been worth my time. Priyanka is incredibly unique. She is one of a kind, and I say this to her face as well.”
Priyanka Chopra was ready to rebuild her career in America
Acharia particularly highlighted Priyanka’s willingness to put her established Bollywood position aside and begin again in Hollywood. Even after reaching the top of the Indian film industry, the actor was prepared to attend meetings at every level to establish herself in the US.“The lack of ego in that woman… When she was at the top of her game, she came to America with me and took meetings with the assistants of the assistants, and pounded the streets with me. It’s so remarkable and admirable,” she maintained.“There are a lot of stars in India who won’t be willing to do that work. When they’re at the top of their game, who would want to go to another country and pound the streets? They would want it all laid out for them. But Priyanka was unique. That’s why I say she has no ego. She taught me how to be humble,” Anjula added.Acharia said her vision was never simply to take Priyanka away from India. Instead, she wanted the actor to become a bridge between Indian talent and international audiences.“When I first came to India, everyone was like, ‘You’re going to steal Priyanka from us.’ But I always said, ‘No, I’m going to take India to the world through her. She’s going to be our biggest ambassador.’ I think, after yoga, she’s the best thing to come out of India.”
Music venture preceded Quantico success
Before Priyanka found success on American television, Acharia had attempted to launch her as a singer. The venture did not work out as planned, prompting the manager to rethink the actor’s international career and eventually steer her towards television.“I founded a label with Jimmy Iovine, for which I signed Priyanka Chopra 17 years ago. It failed and did not launch Priyanka as a singer. I pivoted to managing her and then managed her career into television. Although she questioned it for a long time, we eventually came to the conclusion that it’s a path worth taking. I was still investing in companies and doing multiple things, juggling. At that point, we’d made no money. Quantico brought our first real paycheck.”The success of ‘Quantico’ eventually opened the door to several international opportunities for Priyanka. Since then, the actor has continued to build a career spanning both Indian and Western entertainment.
