Priyanka Chopra's mother Madhu Chopra revealed how her family reacted when her daughter was selected for Miss India. She says that she not only convinced Priyanka to take the plunge, but also had to convince the Chopra family, who were against Priyanka’s participation in competition that launched her career.
In an interview with Supriya Paul for Josh Talks Asha, Madhu Chopra recalled the conversations that took place in the Chopra household after Priyanka was selected for Miss India. She shared, “When Priyanka had to go for Miss India, there was a huge debate at our house that when she is so good at studies why do you have to put distractions in her mind? Priyanka also got nervous because this was not her choice. We had sent her (for the competition) just for fun. She told me, ‘Mom, I don’t think I will be able to do that.'”
This is when Madhu took charge and sat her daughter down. She told her that her regular life wasn’t going anywhere, but the Miss India opportunity might not come again. It was then that Priyanka decided to give it a shot. She told her mother, “I will give it my best.” The 18-year-old did exactly that, and emerged as the runner-up of Miss India 2000 and went on to win Miss World 2000.
However, Madhu Chopra had to persuade her husband’s side of the family, who were ‘overtly protective’ of the women in the house. Madhu shared, “Her maternal family had no objections, they also believed the same way as I did. But her paternal family had a lot of issues, ‘humaare ghar ki ladkiyan ye nahi karti hain’ (our girls don’t do such things). My sister-in-law was from a conservative background and had three brothers who were in the army, and army men are overtly protective for their females, so they were very protective. But again, I sat them down, and they put their things across and I put my reasoning across. Then my brother-in-law said, ‘Ok, let her take the opportunity, but there is one condition, she will never go alone. Either you or her father will have to accompany her’.”
Madhu agreed and gave up her career as a doctor in the army. She added, “This was another compromise I made. I really wanted her not to miss the opportunity. They were like, ‘Forget about your career, and go with Priyanka.’ I didn’t even think twice before leaving my career for her because I thought I had enjoyed my life, now if my company will help her build a good future, I will do that.”
