Yes, this little girl is Priyanka Chopra! Born on July 18, 1982, Priyanka was brought up in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (All pictures courtesy: Priyanka Chopra's Instagram account)
You will be surprised to know that Priyanka Chopra, who made a style statement with her hot pants and halter tops in 2008's Dostana, wasn't allowed to wear a pair of jeans at home. Yes, you read it right! She faced these restrictions at home after returning from the US, where she went for higher studies
Priyanka Chopra said in an interview with mid-day in 2009, 'I wasn't allowed to wear short skirts and then my jeans were also confiscated. And my mother got 12 salwar kameez sets made for me so that I wore only those because when I used to go to school, guys used to follow me'
Though Priyanka Chopra is a global star now, the actress has time and again shown her love for her motherland. Here's an interesting incident that PC had shared with mid-day
Priyanka Chopra, in 2012, had said, 'I am very proud to be an Indian. It's not an empty proclamation, but a statement based on my beliefs and personal experiences, which were ingrained in me since childhood. I come from an army background. My parents were doctors in the army and I have spent all my formative years being part of a committed group of people whose main aim is to protect the independence we enjoy today, even if it means giving up their lives'
She further added, 'I have met so many people whose stories can fill a thousand pages... stories of sacrifice, love, honour, all for the country. The kids I grew up with, came from the same background, the same schools, but we were still so different. I will never forget something one of my classmates told me. She was a shy girl who had so many dreams and aspirations but no outlet to realise them. In a somewhat deep discussion with her (given our age at the time), she said, 'I want my freedom, to just be. To be proud of whatever I do without thinking about what society will say'
'I realised then that I didn't want to throw away the freedom I had been given by my parents and from that moment I chose to grab every opportunity that came my way. Miss World was another eye-opener. I walked into a room full of women from across the world, feeling slightly inferior. A few weeks and multiple experiences later, I walked away with a new understanding of how unique we are in this world... a confluence of intelligence, beauty culture, tradition and history. I realised that many aspects of who I am is where I come from and I had so many reasons to be proud of being an Indian. Ever since then, this fact has been proven to me time and time again at various interactions I have had with people across the globe,' Priyanka Chopra concluded
Priyanka Chopra, whose foray into the entertainment industry began at the age of 17 when she won Miss India and went on to win Miss World, followed by Bollywood and now Hollywood, hopes to inspire people with the feelings she had during the course of what has been a fascinating journey
Priyanka Chopra also wrote her memoir titled Unfinished. The actress always wanted to write a book but wanted to wait to do a bit more in life
Priyanka Chopra's Unfinished is a collection of personal essays, stories, and observations by the actress She hopes to spread the message - 'If I can...anyone can'
When Priyanka looks back on her life as a public person, she says she feels super proud of what she has done and where her life is right now. I've realised you don't have to be finished to tell your story, and that sometimes life's greatest lessons are taught along the ride...when you're still figuring things out...when you're 'Unfinished',' she added
Priyanka was very close to her father Ashok Chopra, who died in June 2013. She got a tattoo reading 'Daddy's Lil Girl' inked on her wrist in his handwriting
Picture perfect! Priyanka Chopra with her parents Ashok and Madhu Chopra and brother Siddharth Chopra
Priyanka Chopra with her sibling Siddharth Chopra. "I wish I could rewind to the time when you looked like my baby brother... and when your birthday was a countdown to mine for me. Oh wait... it still is. Happy birthday Sid... Miss you @siddharthchopra89 [sic]" wrote PC in her caption with this picture
Priyanka often shares pictures remembering her father. This snapshot of him offering a rose to his wife and Priyanka Chopra's mother Madhu looks so adorable!
Priyanka Chopra has often expressed that her father's death was a big blow and that she still has not come to terms with it
Priyanka is herself as invested in philanthropy as in her showbiz career as an actor and producer. She has worked with UNICEF for a decade and was appointed as the national and global UNICEF goodwill ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016 respectively. Priyanka was named the 2019 recipient of the UNICEF Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award at UNICEF's Snowflake Ball in New York. Priyanka travelled to Ethiopia to meet refugee children who fled their countries due to conflict and humanitarian crises
Priyanka Chopra promotes causes such as the environment, health and education and women's rights among many others
Priyanka Chopra was conferred India's fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, in 2016, and featured in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the world. She is also a National Award winner
We wish Priyanka Chopra a very happy birthday. Just keep inspiring the world PeeCee!
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