Priyanka Chopra recently opened up about a deep personal regret from the early years of her career — the limited time she could offer her late father while she was fully immersed in establishing herself in the Hindi film industry.
During her appearance at the BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi, the global star revisited the mindset that drove her as a young artist, recalling how her ambition and hunger for opportunities shaped the choices she made throughout her twenties. She described that phase as one where work overshadowed everything else, leaving little room for personal celebrations or family moments.
She admitted that many significant occasions in her family’s life slipped by while she was racing through demanding schedules. She reflected on how festive gatherings, milestone moments and even her father’s difficult medical phases were missed because she prioritized her growing career. Looking back, she acknowledged that those early years demanded relentless effort, and the younger version of herself willingly embraced that intensity to create the foundation for the life she enjoys today.
“I missed when my father was in the hospital… I missed Christmases, I missed Diwali. I missed time with my family… That time, I needed to work that hard. And that 20-year-old me needed to make those sacrifices for this woman to have the life that I have now,” she said.
With maturity, her understanding of success and balance has evolved. Priyanka noted that achievements often rest on years of unseen dedication, persistence and discipline. She shared that the ability to slow down or make selective choices comes only after one has pushed through demanding phases with consistency and commitment. She views this shift as a privilege earned through years of nonstop effort.
Grateful for the determination of her younger self, Priyanka expressed that her current freedom to choose projects and set boundaries exists only because of the sacrifices made earlier. She often finds herself silently appreciating the version of her who worked tirelessly and encourages others to similarly acknowledge their younger selves for their persistence.
Priyanka’s father, Ashok Chopra, a former army doctor who retired in 1997 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, passed away in 2013 after a prolonged battle with cancer.Professionally, Priyanka’s most recent appearance was in the action drama Heads of State on Amazon Prime Video. She is now filming SS Rajamouli’s large-scale Telugu project Varanasi, featuring Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran, while also preparing for two major Hollywood releases, The Bluff and Judgment Day, slated for 2026.
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