Priyanka Chopra made the country proud by winning the Miss World contest in 2000. After winning the title, she was on cloud nine, but her journey to the top was not so easy. In a recent conversation, her mother Madhu Chopra recalled how the actress’ uncle was against her participating in beauty pageants. He told them, ‘Girls in our family don’t do this.’ read on!
Speaking to the show Something Bigger on YouTube, Madhu Chopra recalled how difficult it was to convince Priyanka Chopra’s father, late Ashok Chopra, to send his girl to Mumbai for Miss India. But more than that, it was the actress’s uncle who was against her participating in the competition. Speaking about him, PeeCee’s mother said that he was like the head of the family.
Soon after The Sky Is Pink actress was selected, he visited her home and told her that she would have to go to Bombay for training. But his brother-in-law was completely against it. She told him that she was planting thoughts in her daughter’s mind. “The girls in our family don’t do this,” she said. After hearing a lot from him, Priyanka Chopra cried in frustration as she thought her bade papa (uncle) would melt down but he said no.
PeeCee’s mother then talked to his wife and told her that this was an opportunity and that she would not go away from home. If it clicks for her, it’s fine and if it doesn’t, she goes back to school. There is no pressure on the girl. Furthermore, he recalled how the children were disappointed when Ashok Chopra did not support his daughter’s dreams.
Dr. Madhu told that at that time Priyanka was studying in class 12th and her board exams were about to take place. So, telling my father about the competition and convincing him to agree to it was another task during my gap year. Both Priyanka and her younger brother Siddharth kept requesting him, but to no avail. His father said that boards are not easy. Therefore, he has to leave all these ‘distractions’ and study for them.
But her mother did not want her daughter to lose this opportunity. Hence, he also left his practice to support the global icon.
Also read: Priyanka Chopra’s mother Madhu Chopra reveals ‘her home state didn’t welcome’ her when she became Miss World 2000: ‘There was some trend or bad wind blowing…’
