Priyanka Chopra Jonas has opened up about the challenges and perceptions surrounding Indian cinema during the early years of her career, revealing that she was once told Indian films could never achieve the same global recognition as Hollywood.
Speaking at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, the actor reflected on her journey from a young newcomer in Bollywood to becoming one of India’s most successful international stars. Priyanka shared that when she entered the film industry, many believed language would always remain a barrier preventing Indian cinema from reaching global audiences.
According to the actor, there was a widespread belief that films made in languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Marathi and others would struggle to connect with viewers worldwide because they were not produced in English.
Priyanka explained that she entered the entertainment industry without any family connections or knowledge of filmmaking. Coming from a family of doctors, she had to learn the workings of the industry on her own after winning the Miss World crown in 2000.
She recalled that the film industry felt like a closed and highly specialised world where aspiring actors and filmmakers had to figure out their own paths. Despite the challenges, Priyanka quickly established herself as one of Bollywood’s leading stars with successful films such as Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Aitraaz and several others.
Looking back, Priyanka said the predictions about Indian cinema’s limited reach have been proven wrong. Over the past two decades, Indian films have steadily expanded their global footprint, attracting audiences far beyond the Indian diaspora.
Movies such as Dangal, Secret Superstar, RRR and several regional-language blockbusters have found success across international markets, demonstrating that compelling stories can transcend language barriers. Countries such as China, Japan and the United States have embraced Indian films, proving that subtitles are no longer an obstacle for global audiences.
Priyanka herself played a significant role in bridging the gap between Indian and Western entertainment industries. In 2015, she made a bold move to Hollywood at a time when she was already at the peak of her Bollywood career.
Her breakthrough came with the American television series Quantico, where she became the first South Asian woman to headline a major US network drama. She later appeared in projects such as Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, Citadel, Heads of State and The Bluff, steadily building a successful international career.
Despite her achievements abroad, Priyanka has never lost touch with her roots. The actor is now set to make her highly anticipated return to Indian cinema after nearly a decade with filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s ambitious sci-fi epic Varanasi, which also stars Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Her comments at Cannes Lions serve as a reminder of how dramatically the entertainment landscape has changed. What was once considered impossible is now a reality, with Indian cinema enjoying unprecedented global recognition and influence.
For Priyanka Chopra, the journey reflects not only her personal success but also the remarkable rise of Indian storytelling on the world stage.
