From Miss World to 'Baywatch': The meteoric rise of Priyanka Chopra

With Priyanka Chopra being featured on Time Magazine’s front page, there’s only one thing on everyone’s mind: is there anything PC can’t do? With a People’s Choice Award earlier this year, followed by a Padma Shri, and being featured on the cover of Time Magazine, Priyanka Chopra has cemented her place as one of the most famous Indian celebrities with global recognition. However, with fame comes speculation. Does she deserve a Time Magazine cover? A Padma Shri? Before we get into the for and againsts, we thought a refresher was needed. Here’s a look at the rise of Priyanka Chopra, from her Miss World days to presenting an Oscar: Priyanka Chopra, pre-fame (1999) [caption id=“attachment_2747194” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Image Courtesy: India Forums http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4607941[/caption] It was Chopra’s mother who reportedly sent these pictures to Miss India competition, registering her daughter in the beauty paegent. Thank god for mothers, right? Miss World (2000) [caption id=“attachment_2747198” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra’s crowning glory moment. Image from Twitter.[/caption] At the age of 17, Chopra won the Miss World title, after winning Miss India prior to this. Early days in Bollywood (2004) [caption id=“attachment_2747204” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra in ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’. Image from Youtube.[/caption] It took Priyanka a range of films opposite many leading actors to be noticed by movie-going audiences in Bollywood. Uptill this point she was mostly doing commercial films. Breakthrough roles [caption id=“attachment_2747274” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra in ‘7 Khoon Maaf’. Youtube screen grab.[/caption] With roles such as Aitraaz, where she plays a femme fatale character, and Vishal Bhardwaj’s 7 Khoon Maaf, where she plays 7 varied characters, Chopra showed audiences her acting prowess. ‘Fashion’ and National Award [caption id=“attachment_2747282” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra with her ‘Fashion’ co-star Kangana Ranaut. Image from PTI.[/caption] After films like Don and winning the National Award for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion, Priyanka Chopra had now become a household name. ‘Exotic’ [caption id=“attachment_2747290” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra in ‘Exotic’. Youtube screen grab.[/caption] PC then went on to release 3 hit singles in the US, In My City, Exotic and I Can’t Make You Love Me.  ‘Mary Kom’ and 2nd National Award [caption id=“attachment_2747302” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra in ‘Mary Kom’. Reuters Image.[/caption] Back in India, Chopra starred in boxer Mary Kom’s biopic, and won her second national award for it. Alex Parrish in ‘Quantico’ [caption id=“attachment_2747318” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra in ‘Quantico’. Image from Facebook.[/caption] What raised the ranks for Priyanka Chopra was the lead role in ABC’s Quantico, which made PC the first Indian actress to be on American television. Oscar Diaries [caption id=“attachment_2747326” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra at the Academy Awards. Image from Reuters.[/caption] Not only did Priyanka Chopra win everyone’s hearts being the first Indian actress to present an Oscar, she also was the most googled celebrity that night after Leonardo DiCaprio. ‘Baywatch’ [caption id=“attachment_2747342” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Priyanka Chopra with ‘The Rock’. Image from Facebook.[/caption] 2016 has been the golden year for Priyanka Chopra. It started with a People’s choice award, followed by the Padma Shree, and now she’s playing the negative role in the Baywatch movie along with Zac Efron and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.