The Desi Girl Turns 43: 4 Landmark Films Of Priyanka Chopra That Ruled The Box-Office
Aitraaz (2004): Conventional glamour dominated PC's filmography until Aitraaz dropped in and changed the game. As Sonia Roy, an ambitious corporate boss, Chopra flipped the perception. (Image: IMDb)
The film explores the evil of corporate sexual abuse and also stars Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead roles. Yet, it was the rage, ruthlessness, and ravishing undertone of Priyanka's character that stole the spotlight. A morally and ethically grey character, it depicts how the desire for power blinds a person and turns them into monsters. If there's one film that showcases PC's antagonist avatar, then Aitraaz it is. (Image: IMDb)
Don and Don 2 (2006 and 2011): Bollywood has a handful of female cop characters which claimed an iconic status. Roma is one of them. The grit, glamour, and intensity of this character is unmatched. (Image: IMDb)
Playing a cop in one of Bollywood's most stylish franchises, she is after the international smuggler, Don (Shah Rukh Khan). Getting through intense training and acting workshops, Chopra proved that she is the OG action heroine of Bollywood. The character isn't just the sassiest and slickest, it was a well-written one too by Farhan Akhtar. PC took the game up with the sequel as well, as her hunt for Don resumed. (Image: IMDb)
Fashion (2008): Madhur Bhandarkar always dives deep into an industry and gives us a chilling account of the nitty-gritties of it. With this film, he took his research to the next level. However, it was PC's Meghna Mathur, who again stole the spotlight in this film. (Image: IMDb)
Barfi! (2012): Anurag Basu reportedly visited Priyanka Chopra right after an event to discuss Barfi!, and said, 'I think I made a mistake. How can PC play the role of an autistic girl?' (Image: IMDb)
An actor's journey is marked by versatility and the moment she sheds her glamour self and dons the hat of an eccentric and complex character. That's what PC did here! Essaying the role of Jhilmil, an autistic girl, she made it clear that nuances of acting lie in quietly internalizing the character and not just delivering dramatic dialogues. The way Chopra infuses a childlike innocence, sensitivity, and depth deserves a watch. (Image: IMDb)
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