ACTRESS Priyanka Chopra Jonas has said “embracing imperfection, rather than chasing perfection”, has been central to her success in entertainment.
The Indian American star, who began her career in Mumbai before moving to Los Angeles, stressed the importance of “constant listening and experimentation” in her career.
“I always want to be authentic to myself in everything I do, but keeping people’s attention is a really tough job, and you can only do it through evolution,” Priyanka said.
She was speaking to People president Leah Wyar during a panel discussion at Cannes Lions.
The Citadel and Mary Kom star recalled how early on, her career was marked by a pursuit of perfection, before she realized what truly connects with audiences.
“I can make mistakes, I’m human, I don’t get everything right,” Priyanka was quoted as saying. “[When I started my career], I was constantly striving for perfection. But over time, I realized that emotional connection [to fans] came from saying, ‘I made a mistake’ ... and I think that’s okay. That emotional connection with your audience comes from being able to accept that I’m doing my best,” according to People.
The actress also credited her drive in the face of rejection as another defining trait.
“I’m very ambitious, and if I’m said no to, I want to do it even more,” she said. Priyanka was most recently seen in Prime Video’s The Bluff, in which she played retired Caribbean pirate Ercell Bloody Mary Bodden. She also produced the action drama. “I was really shocked at how many countries it was number one in because, first of all, it was a female story, second of all, about a female pirate, that most people didn’t know existed,” Priyanka said.
The actress, who won the Miss World crown before venturing into the Indian film industry, where she has several hits, moved to the US where she worked in television before establishing herself in Hollywood. She lives in California with her husband, Nick Jonas and their daughter, Malti Marie.
On diversifying into production, the actress recalled feeling like an outsider when she first entered the A m e r i c a n film industry and wanting to build a platform for others in similar positions.
“When I came into the film industry, I didn’t know anyone... when new people come into film and TV, that is my sweet spot,” she said.
“I want to, as a production house, to be the shoulders for entertainers and creators to jump off, because I created a platform and I know how hard it is.”
At the start of her career in the US, Priyanka starred in the TV series Quantico, before moving on to films (Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections).
She has since appeared in music videos, turned producer, been an ambassador for Unicef and featured in dramas on streaming sites.
Priyanka said the lack of leading roles available to her as an Indian actor in Hollywood pushed her toward producing her own work.
“When I came to America, I wanted more work which had me as a lead, which had me doing parts that I don’t think a lot of studios imagined an Indian actor doing. So I started producing my own movies,” according to People.
She also described how creating her own opportunities, rather than waiting for them, shaped her approach as both an actress and a producer.
“I’ve heard this from so many female colleagues: When you want to move along and there’s a glass ceiling that’s been set for most women in entertainment, you just have to do it yourself,” she said.
Priyanka’s next project is the survival film ‘Reset’, where she stars with Orlando Bloom.
She will also be seen in Varanasi, which is being filmed in Telugu, but will be dubbed into nearly 200 languages. The actress noted that the popularity of streaming helped international projects reach new audiences.
“My mom loves Korean dramas. She would never have had access to those if it wasn’t for both of those factors,” the actress said, citing the global success of Squid Game and Parasite as examples of non-English content breaking through internationally. The actress said authentic partnerships and continued self-improvement were key aspects of her life in the entertainment industry.
“To be the best partner, I had to have an authentic partnership, I had to come from something that was real,” she said. “I like to associate with the best. I built my career on my own, I’ve worked for 26 years to keep evolving, to keep that attention. You seek aligning with the best, and it’s okay to give yourself permission to seek better every time,” according to People.
