Priyanka Chopra on Leaving Bollywood for Hollywood: “To restart your career in your 30s is terrifying”

• Priyanka Chopra moved to Los Angeles at 30 after achieving major success in Bollywood.
• She described restarting her career in Hollywood as “terrifying.”
• Her initial attempt to break into the U.S. market through music did not succeed.
• She gained recognition with the hit TV series Quantico.
• Upcoming projects include The Bluff, Citadel Season 2, and Varanasi.

Priyanka Chopra has opened up about one of the most pivotal decisions of her life, walking away from a flourishing career in Hindi cinema to begin again in Hollywood. Speaking recently about that transition, the global star described restarting her career in her 30s as 'terrifying,' even though she was already financially secure and professionally established in India.

By 2013, Chopra was one of Bollywood’s leading actors, known for both box-office hits and critically acclaimed performances. With a stable career and widespread recognition, she had little left to prove in the Indian film industry. Yet she felt her growth had plateaued. At 30, she made the bold choice to move to Los Angeles in search of new creative opportunities.

Reflecting on that turning point, Chopra said, “To restart your career in your 30s is terrifying. I was secure. I was doing well financially. I was established. And I chose to blow it up.” She acknowledged that the journey was far from easy, adding that it took years of hard work and persistence to reach her current position in Hollywood.

When she first arrived in the United States, there was no clear roadmap for her success. Chopra initially pursued a music career, signing with Desi Hits in partnership with Interscope Records. Although she released music and collaborated with international artists, the venture did not provide the breakthrough she had envisioned. Undeterred, she shifted her focus back to acting.

During her early meetings in Hollywood, Chopra became aware of certain preconceived notions about her background. While industry professionals were polite, she recalled being surprised that some expressed astonishment at her fluency in English — a reminder of the stereotypes she faced as an Indian actor entering the American market.

Her breakthrough came with the ABC thriller series Quantico, where she played FBI recruit Alex Parrish. The show ran for three seasons and established Chopra as a recognizable face in American television. She went on to appear in films such as The Matrix Resurrections and the Oscar-nominated drama The White Tiger, further solidifying her international presence.

Now, Chopra says she is in a position to choose projects that resonate with her creatively. “I am in a position now where I get to pick the things that I want to make,” she said, emphasizing that she does not take that privilege lightly. She also credited discipline and integrity — values instilled during her upbringing — as key factors in her journey.

Looking ahead, Chopra’s slate remains packed. She will star opposite Karl Urban in The Bluff, a period drama set in the 19th-century Caribbean, where she plays a mother navigating dangerous circumstances. She is also set to return for Season 2 of Amazon’s spy series Citadel and will appear in filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming project, Varanasi.

For Chopra, the risk of starting over ultimately reshaped her career, and expanded it onto a truly global stage.