Priyanka Chopra Jonas To Headline 23rd India Conference At Harvard University

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, award-winning actor, producer, entrepreneur, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, is slated to headline the prestigious 23rd India Conference, organised by students at Harvard University, to be held February 14 and 15, 2026 in Boston. The conference brings together students, professionals, and thought leaders from across the Indian diaspora, creating a forum for dialogue on identity, innovation, and India’s evolving role in a globalised world. For many attendees, the conversations reflect a shared experience of navigating multiple cultures while remaining deeply connected to India’s history, values, and future. Delivering a keynote address in conversation with Anjula Acharia, Priyanka will also reflect on the diasporic experience;

what it means to carry Indian identity across borders, challenge monolithic representations, and create space for nuanced, contemporary Indian stories on the world stage. Her journey underscores the power of cultural fluency and self-authorship in redefining how India and Indians are perceived globally. Priyanka’ recent work includes starring in Prime Video’s Heads of State, with upcoming projects such as Amazon’s The Bluff, Season 2 of Citadel, and SS Rajamouli’s ambitious film Varanaasi. Anjula Acharia is an entrepreneur, investor, and cultural strategist known for shaping the global presence of South Asian talent. Through her production company, Purple Pebble Pictures, Priyanka has built a slate of bold, culturally resonant film and television with global reach, championing women-led stories that highlight underrepresented voices and socially relevant narratives, as well as nuanced storytelling from the Indian Diaspora and around the world. The company’s projects include Academy Award recognised The White Tiger, Anuja, and To Kill a Tiger, and the upcoming The Bluff in collaboration with AGBO for Amazon. Complementing her creative work, Priyanka is a global advocate for social impact as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, championing education, gender equity, and child rights through campaigns focused on improving the lives of children, particularly girls, in India and around the world. Anchoring the conference theme, ‘The India We Imagine’, Priyanka will speak to a generation of Indians at home and abroad who are actively shaping India’s global narrative. From second-generation immigrants to first-time global citizens, she will explore how the diaspora serves as a bridge, connecting tradition with innovation, heritage with ambition, and local stories with international platforms. The address is expected to resonate particularly with young members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom are grappling with questions of belonging, representation, and responsibility. Through her over 25 years of experience across film, business, and advocacy, Priyanka will offer insights on embracing complexity, claiming space, and contributing meaningfully to India’s cultural and global future, regardless of geography. Ritul Madhukar, one of the Conference Co-Chairs, commented, “Few individuals in our lifetime have embodied The India We Imagine as powerfully as Priyanka. She has captured hearts across the world while remaining deeply rooted in her identity and values. It is an exceptional honour to welcome her to the India Conference at Harvard, and we are excited for the perspective she will bring on culture, creativity, and India’s evolving global voice.” The session promises to be a defining moment for the India Conference, reaffirming the role of the global Indian community in imagining, and building, an India that is confident, plural, and globally engaged.