Priyanka Chopra Jonas may now be a globally recognised actor, but her initial foray into Hollywood was far from smooth, according to her long-time manager, Anjula Acharia.
Speaking on The Ok Sweetie Show, Acharia shared candid memories of the early days when the idea of launching Chopra Jonas in the American entertainment industry was met with scepticism and even ridicule, despite her immense success in Bollywood
.Mocked for Backing a “Brown Bollywood Star”
Reflecting on how the Hollywood establishment reacted to the plan, Acharia said there was strong doubt about Chopra Jonas’ potential beyond India’s film circuit. “People told me I was stupid when I bought Priyanka. Everyone was like, ‘You can’t break a brown Bollywood star in America’,” she said, explaining that many believed the venture was unrealistic.
Acharia went on to describe how she turned to Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, for reassurance during a moment of insecurity. “I was having one of my insecure moments… I was like, ‘Jimmy, people are saying that I’m crazy,’ and he goes, ‘Do you know everyone thought I was crazy when I wanted to launch a white rapper whose name was Eminem?’”
That comment, she suggested, helped her regain confidence in their bold strategy.
Meeting the “Assistant of the Assistant”
Acharia also recalled moments that were both surreal and heartbreaking as the manager watched Chopra Jonas navigate unfamiliar territory. “Imagine this: you are with the Beyonce of a country, but nobody else knows that she is Beyonce. Just you do. And she is introducing herself and saying, ‘You don’t know who I am, but I’m Priyanka Chopra.’ I’m meeting the assistant of the assistant in a cafeteria with her. I was suffering from heartbreak for her, but she was so fabulous. She has no ego.”
Her reference to meeting an “assistant of the assistant” emphasises how far Chopra Jonas had to start from the bottom in Hollywood, despite being a major star in India.
Humility and Work Ethic
Acharia said that one of the most striking qualities Chopra Jonas displayed throughout the process was her humility and readiness to do whatever was necessary to build credibility. “Priyanka has actually taught a lot of humility. There have been a lot of times where I have been like, ‘We don’t have to do this,’ but she is like, ‘No, yeah we do.’ There have been very specific moments where I’m like, ‘We are above this,’ and she is like, ‘No, we are not.’”
This humility, Acharia believes, was crucial in helping Chopra Jonas eventually gain recognition and establish herself in Hollywood.
From Quantico to Big Screens
Chopra Jonas eventually broke through with the lead role in ABC’s Quantico in 2015, becoming the first South Asian actor to headline an American network drama series, a milestone that significantly raised her profile in the United States.
Since then, she has appeared in Hollywood films such as Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections and series like Citadel, while also gearing up for upcoming projects that continue to build her international presence.
Acharia’s reflections on those early struggles offer a rare glimpse into the resilience and persistence behind Chopra Jonas’ global journey. The combination of belief, humility and willingness to start from the bottom remains a defining part of her Hollywood story, a narrative that began with meeting junior executives and defying doubt, and grew into worldwide recognition.
Chopra will next be seen in the The Bluff. Directed by the Russo Brothers, Chopra will be seen in an out-and-out action avatar. It will be released on Prime Videos on February 25. She is also a part of SS Rajamouli's upcoming film, Varanasi, alongside Mahesh Babu.
