Priyanka Chopra turns 41: Social issues advocated by Bollywood's desi girl

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, an accomplished actress and a global icon has not only made her mark in the entertainment industry but has also emerged as a fervent advocate for gender equality, racial inclusivity and child rights. Throughout her career, Chopra has been vocal about pressing social issues and has used her platform to bring about positive change. Today, on PC’s birthday as she turns 41 years old, let’s delve into the impactful endeavors of Priyanka Chopra, highlighting her journey as an advocate for women's empowerment, breaking stereotypes, and combating racism. Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra | Instagram.

Pay Parity: After a 20-year career in show business, Priyanka Chopra recently shared that she finally achieved pay parity for her role in the web series Citadel where she receivedequal pay alongside her male co-star, Richard Madden. Chopra was both surprised and deeply moved by this breakthrough, as she had previously doubted that such equality would ever be realized in her lifetime. Before that in an interview with BBC 100 Women, Priyanka Chopra spoke about pay parity and said, “It (the pay gap) is large, substantially large. And so many women still deal with that. I'm sure I will too if I worked with a male co-actor now in Bollywood.” Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra | Instagram.

Breaking stereotypes: While discussing her entry into Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra shared how she insisted on playing leading roles instead of accepting parts that perpetuated stereotypes often associated with Bollywood actors. She expressed "When I went to America, there wasn't a precedent. I didn't have a roadmap to follow because no one had done it before. I had to figure it out." Chopra revealed that her lifelong dream is to witness Indian cinema and artists conquering the West, and we can say she was successful as Bollywood actresses like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, are now securing lead roles in the West as well. Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra | Instagram.

Women empowerment: In a 2022 interview, Chopra said that women should be responsible for their own finances. Priyanka Chopra reflected on her early career beginnings at the age of17, recounting her mother's valuable advice that emphasized the importance of women being financially independent. Regardless of one's father or future spouse, Chopra's mother instilled in her the significance of taking responsibility for one's own finances and striving for financial independence. “Enabling women to achieve financial self-sufficiency is an initial stride towards empowering them to meet their daily needs,” says Chopra. Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra | Instagram.

Racism: Priyanka Chopra has spoken about her experiences and thoughts regarding being referred to as a "brown terrorist" when she first went to America to record her single “In MyCity.” The actress has also been open about her unpleasant experiences with racism and prejudice while studying in New York City. "I was treated differently because I’m brown. I was called ‘Brownie’ and ‘Curry,’” the actress said. She has expressed her belief that the term "brown" should not be used to define people solely based on their skin color, as it reduces their identity and overlooks the diversity within communities. Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra | Instagram.

Child empowerment: Priyanka Chopra has been associated with UNICEF for over a decade and has actively engaged in various initiatives to support underprivileged children and promoteeducation. Through her partnership with Unicef, she has visited numerous villages and schools to witness the challenges faced by children in marginalized communities. She has emphasized the importance of education, particularly for girls. Through her involvement with UNICEF, Chopra has also raised awareness about issues such as child marriage, child labor, and the importance of healthcare and immunizations for children. Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra | Instagram.