When one looks at Priyanka Chopra today — a global star straddling Bollywood and Hollywood, a producer, and a public figure with vast influence — it’s easy to forget the gritty early years of hustling, uncertainty, and sacrifice that built the foundation of her success. In a recent appearance at the BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi, she opened up about those formative, intense years of her career, describing them in plain, honest terms: she was “greedy for work” in her 20s.
Saying “Yes” to Everything: The Early Mindset
Priyanka revealed that in her early days, she accepted nearly every opportunity that came her way, regardless of how big or small, glamorous or ordinary. “When I first started working, I wasn’t selective at all,” she said. “Whatever work I would get, I would do … I was really greedy in my 20s. I wanted to work every day.”
At a time when she had no guarantees, no safety net, and no assurance of success, she believed that simply getting work was a privilege — and she treated every offer as such. This unfiltered hunger and willingness to work constantly laid the groundwork for the heights she would scale later, both in India and internationally.
The Personal Cost: Sacrifices Behind the Glamour
But that ambition came at a price. Priyanka admitted that chasing her dreams meant missing out on many personal and family moments. She spoke about missing birthdays, festive celebrations like Christmas and Diwali, and even crucial times when her father was hospitalized — all because she felt she couldn’t afford to say no. “That 20‑year‑old me needed to make those sacrifices for this woman to have the life that I have now,” she said.
These weren’t casual choices, but deliberate trade‑offs — between stability and uncertainty, between personal life and professional ambition. Priyanka now acknowledges these as necessary sacrifices, part of the unseen struggle behind every red carpet and global premiere.
Navigating Turbulent Times: From Flops to Reinvention
Success was far from immediate and smooth. As Priyanka has shared, there were periods of significant setback: she recalls a year in which six of her films flopped.
During such phases, when one project failed after another, she didn’t have the luxury to choose — she had to pivot and keep going. “My pivots were never about choice. They were about survival,” she admitted.
This part of her journey underscores the reality of many artists’ lives: failures and unpredictability often lurk behind the glamour. It’s not just about talent, but resilience — the ability to face repeated disappointments and still persist. For Priyanka, that meant accepting every offer, travelling constantly, risking stability, and working through uncertainty.
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Discipline, Work Ethic and the Turning Point
In reflecting on those early years, Priyanka often emphasizes discipline and relentless work ethic as the pillars that carried her forward. “There’s no other way around it — having a work ethic, having discipline, and going after it,” she said.
That mindset allowed her to endure — even when things went wrong. Her willingness to learn, adapt and reinvent herself helped when she eventually attempted to break into Hollywood, where the challenges were different: stereotypes, unfamiliar systems, and tougher competition.
Over time, the grind transformed into clarity. Priyanka moved from accepting everything, to selectively choosing projects — a place where she now stands with the ability to decide what works for her career, family, and personal wellbeing.
Gratitude and Ownership: Thanking the Younger Self
Perhaps the most touching part of her reflection is the gratitude she feels toward her younger self. She acknowledged the sacrifices, the lost celebrations, the exhausted schedules — all worth it for the foundation they built. Now, she said, she can “choose when to say yes,” but only because her younger self said yes to everything.
That level of ownership — to look back honestly, recognise shortcomings, but also value the struggle — is rare. It’s an important message to anyone chasing big dreams: often the path is not glamorous; often the choices are hard; but if you persist with discipline and conviction, you lay a foundation for future autonomy.
What Her Journey Teaches Us
Priyanka Chopra’s story — especially her reflections on being “greedy” for work in her 20s — offers a powerful blueprint for ambition coupled with resilience. Here are some takeaways that resonate beyond the world of cinema:
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Embrace opportunities: Especially in the beginning, treat every opportunity as precious. Sometimes even work that doesn’t seem glamorous will build experience, connections, discipline.
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Be prepared for sacrifice: Success often comes with personal cost. There will be missed celebrations, family events, and comfort. Recognising that early can help you brace for the long haul.
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Stay persistent even through failures: Not all endeavors will succeed. Some might even fail spectacularly. But failure doesn’t mean termination — it can be a pivot point.
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Discipline and constant work ethic matters: Talent alone rarely suffices. Consistent effort, learning, adaptation — those are what sustain long careers.
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Once success comes — value balance and choice: When the time is right, you should aim for balance. Be selective, prioritize wellbeing, and reclaim control over your time.
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Respect your younger self: Gratitude toward the person who took the risks, who said yes when opportunities were scarce — that acknowledgement preserves humility and perspective.
Conclusion
The tale of Priyanka Chopra’s early hustle is more than celebrity lore. It is a lesson in ambition, grit, and the cost of success. Her candid reflections — admitting that in her 20s she was “greedy” for work, missing personal milestones, pushing through failures — demystify glamor. They show that behind the accolades, the red carpets, the global fame, lies years of sweat, sacrifice, discipline, and uncompromising dedication.
Today, as she stands in a position to choose when and how to work, her journey underscores a universal truth: success is rarely a moment, but a process — built by the choices we make, the sacrifices we accept, and the persistence we sustain. In honoring her younger self, Priyanka Chopra also honors countless dreamers who dare to hustle, take risks, and keep going despite the odds.
Her story reminds us: sometimes you have to grind hard, say yes to many things, and sacrifice comforts — but with patience, commitment, and vision, you pave the way for a future where you get to define your own terms.
