Priyanka Chopra, one of India’s most celebrated actors, continues to chart new territory in her international career. Speaking from London, Chopra reflected on her journey, describing her success as a process of “constant evolution.” While she has long been a dominant force in Hindi cinema, Chopra now finds herself at an exciting new phase, focused on expanding her filmography and influence in the West.
“It is constant evolution for sure. I would’ve never imagined where I am today when in 2002, I started my first movie. But I feel like I’m really nascent in my work in the West so far. I have a major filmography in my Indian work. I’ve been able to work in various genres, work with the most incredible actors and filmmakers,” Chopra told PTI in a recent interview.
Heads of State, A New Hollywood Challenge
In her latest Hollywood project Heads of State, Priyanka Chopra stars as Noel Bisset, an MI6 agent with a complex past involving the British Prime Minister, Sam Clarke. The film’s plot revolves around Bisset’s mission to protect Clarke and the newly elected US President, Will Derringer, after they are attacked ahead of a NATO conference. The action-packed thriller, now streaming on Prime Video, showcases Chopra in a central, action-driven role.
Chopra expressed pride in her character and the film, emphasizing her desire to take on roles that are meaningful and empowering. “I want to be proud of the work that I take on. I try to take on characters that have agency and are strong and have something to do in the movies versus being ornamental,” she said.
Building a Portfolio in the West
Despite her established success in India, Chopra views her Hollywood journey as just beginning. “So I want to be able to build on that portfolio in my English language work as well. I feel like there’s a lot more to do, a lot more to explore and I’m excited to see what will unfold,” she shared. Her ambition is to replicate the diversity and depth of her Indian filmography in her Western projects, taking on varied genres and collaborating with talented filmmakers globally.
Chopra’s Hollywood résumé already includes prominent roles in Quantico, Baywatch, Citadel, The Matrix Resurrections, and Love Again. Each project has allowed her to showcase different facets of her talent, but she remains eager for more opportunities and challenges in the international arena.
Working with John Cena and a Stellar Cast
Heads of State also marks Chopra’s first collaboration with John Cena, the former WWE superstar turned actor, who enjoys a massive fan following in India.
Reflecting on their partnership, Chopra said, “I knew of John from his WWE days in India. He’s so well known in the country. It’s hard to not know him, especially when he made his transition into movies. I thought that was very interesting and his choice of parts were great. So I was very excited to do this movie with him.”
Chopra praised Cena’s comedic timing both on and off screen, noting that his sense of humor made improvisation and collaboration on set enjoyable. “When you have good comedic timing in real life, you can improvise on set with that kind of ease,” she added.
The film also stars Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, and Sarah Niles, with production by Peter Safran and John Rickard.
Action, Stunts, and Teamwork“Heads of State” features Chopra in a range of action sequences, including hand-to-hand combat, gun battles, and high-stakes stunts alongside co-stars Cena and Idris Elba. Chopra credited her stunt team and director Ilya Naishuller for the film’s dynamic action and her on-screen presence.
“Actors are just as good as the teams that surround us, especially in the movies. I think that we had an incredible stunt team and a really visionary director who knew exactly what he wanted. He had a storyboard of almost every shot. He knew exactly how large the explosion needed to be or how high the helicopter needed to be,” she explained.
Chopra emphasized that having a great technical team is a common thread between her experiences in India and Hollywood, giving her the confidence to deliver strong performances in demanding roles.
As Priyanka Chopra continues to build her career in the West, she remains driven by curiosity and ambition. “There’s a lot more to do, a lot more to explore and I’m excited to see what will unfold,” she said. With her commitment to strong, meaningful roles and her willingness to embrace new challenges, Chopra is poised to leave an indelible mark on both Indian and international cinema.
