Priyanka Chopra: I was pushed into a corner in the Hindi film industry

Priyanka Chopra Jonas recently revealed why she left Bollywood to work in the US. Stating that she “had beef with people”, the Aitraaz actor said that she was pushed into a corner in the (Hindi film) industry.

While speaking to Dax Shepherd on his podcast Armchair Expert, Priyanka spoke about the beginning of her music career in the West. She said that Anjula Acharia, the co-founder of Desi Hits, spotted her in a music video and called her up when she was shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj’s 7 Khoon Maaf (2011). She asked if Priyanka would be interested in a music career in the States.

"I was being pushed into a corner in the industry (Bollywood). I had people not casting me. I had beef with people. I am not good at playing that game, so I kind of was tired of the politics, and I said I needed a break," she said.

"This music thing gave me an opportunity to go into another part of the world, not crave for the movies I didn't want to get, but I would require to schmooze certain clubs and cliques of people. It would require grovelling, and I had worked a long time by then, so I didn't feel like I wanted to do it," she added.

"So when this music thing came, I was like, I am going to America'," she said.

Priyanka’s first international single ‘In My City’ was released in 2012. The actor has worked with music stars like Pitbull, Will i.am and Pharell. Priyanka also said that when her music career did not work out, she quickly realised she was “much better at the day job”.

She then shared that someone suggested that she try out for acting roles in the US as well, which she did and eventually landed the lead role in the series Quantico in 2015.

After that, Priyanka bagged big-budget Hollywood releases such as Baywatch, Matrix: Revolutions, The White Tiger and now will be seen in Citadel and Love Again.