Priyanka Chopra’s Manager Reveals the Struggles of Breaking into Hollywood: “A Brown Girl in Hollywood? You’re Crazy”

Global star Priyanka Chopra has carved a unique and powerful identity for herself in Hollywood, from the Golden Globe stage to the Oscar red carpet. However, her journey to international fame was far from easy, as revealed by her manager Anjula Acharya in a recent interview.

Breaking into Hollywood Was Met with Skepticism
Ten years ago, when Priyanka decided to pursue Hollywood with the ABC thriller series Quantico, many doubted her potential. Anjula Acharya disclosed on The OK Sweety Show that people considered the idea “crazy” and openly questioned the feasibility of a brown Bollywood actress succeeding in the U.S. “When I signed Priyanka Chopra, people told me I was foolish. They said, ‘You cannot make a brown Bollywood star work in America,’” Anjula recalled. She added that even Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine reassured her, “Do you know when I wanted to launch Eminem, everyone thought I was crazy too?”

Starting at the Bottom: From Assistant’s Assistant to Star
During Priyanka’s early days in Hollywood, she often had to communicate with filmmakers through multiple layers of assistants. “It was heartbreaking,” Anjula said. “Here is someone who is a Beyoncé-like figure in her country, but no one recognized her. We would be introducing ourselves to an assistant’s assistant in a cafeteria, and I felt so sad for her. Yet, she remained incredibly gracious and humble.”

Lessons in Humility and Persistence
Anjula further revealed that working with Priyanka taught her the importance of humility. “There were many moments when I thought we didn’t need to do certain things, but Priyanka always insisted, ‘No, we must do it.’ Her humility and dedication are remarkable.”

Upcoming Projects: ‘The Bluff’ and ‘Varanasi’
On the work front, Priyanka Chopra is set to star in the high-seas adventure film The Bluff as Bloody Mary, alongside Karl Urban. The film will premiere on Prime Video on 25 February 2026. Following that, she will return to Indian cinema with SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi, starring alongside Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles.

From facing skepticism to achieving global recognition, Priyanka Chopra’s journey remains an inspiring story of resilience, ambition, and breaking barriers in Hollywood.