Global star Priyanka Chopra has revealed that beginning a new chapter in Hollywood in her 30s was one of the most difficult decisions of her life, admitting she knowingly stepped away from a flourishing Bollywood career to pursue international opportunities.
In a recent interview, the actor reflected on the time she moved to the United States around 2015, shortly after delivering major Hindi film successes such as Mary Kom, Bajirao Mastani and Dil Dhadakne Do. At the time, she was among the highest-paid actresses in India.
“Restarting your career in your 30s is terrifying. I was secure, financially stable and established — and I chose to blow it up,” Priyanka said, describing how she left comfort and certainty behind to rebuild herself professionally from scratch.
She initially entered the West as a singer and later transitioned to acting, landing the lead role in the American television series Quantico. However, she said the early days were challenging because of preconceived notions about her background. According to the actor, she often encountered stereotypes in meetings, with people expressing surprise at her fluency in English even before they got to know her work.
Priyanka added that she deliberately avoided “novelty casting” and instead wanted to be part of what she called “borderless entertainment”, collaborating with actors and creators from different countries rather than being limited to roles defined by ethnicity.
Over the years, she established herself in international projects including Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, and the series Citadel. She has also headlined films such as Heads of State and the upcoming adventure drama The Bluff alongside Karl Urban.
After nearly a decade away from Indian cinema, Priyanka is now set to return with filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi. The pan-India project, also starring Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is described as a time-travel adventure rooted in Indian history and is scheduled for a theatrical release in April 2027. Her last Hindi film release was The Sky Is Pink.