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Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 21:55 IST
Priyanka Chopra Encountered Surprising Resistance in Bareilly Following Her Miss World Victory
Madhu Chopra discusses the backlash faced by Priyanka Chopra in her hometown after winning the Miss World 2000 title.
Priyanka Chopra’s ascent to fame is marked by numerous achievements, yet her return to her roots was unexpectedly challenging. After being crowned Miss World 2000, Priyanka encountered resistance from her hometown of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. In a recent appearance on the Something Bigger Show, her mother, Madhu Chopra, shared the contrasts in regional reactions to Priyanka’s landmark achievement.
Madhu recounted that upon Priyanka’s return, there was a prevailing sentiment against beauty pageants, with critics labeling them as “nari shoshan” or oppression of women. “(After the pageant) She first came to Bareilly. But, at that time, there was a trend or a bad wind blowing that all these beauty pageants were for nari shoshan and that they were shaming women by objectifying them and that these pageants were not good. But she won Miss World. They were not ready to welcome her into Uttar Pradesh as such,” Madhu explained. The challenges were significant; even securing permission for Priyanka’s homecoming was difficult, leading to restrictions on where she could be celebrated.
Madhu expressed her dismay over the misguided perspectives that influenced public opinion, stating, “Some people impose their misguided beliefs. But she never had to compromise; there was no nari shoshan anywhere. She did it on her own terms.” She questioned the rationale behind stigmatizing such an empowering platform and emphasized the importance of providing women with opportunities rather than criminalizing their accomplishments.
While she acknowledged the aspirational aspect of beauty pageants, Madhu also addressed their potential downsides. “But then there’s a flip side too… girls go crazy and they want to do things. It’s aspirational, and when they’re disappointed with not making it, they make wrong, bad choices.” She advised that aspiring contestants need a strong sense of self and resilience, highlighting that life offers many paths and opportunities beyond pageantry.
Madhu noted a stark contrast in how Mumbai embraced Priyanka compared to Bareilly. In Mumbai, the film industry rapidly sought her out for roles, but Priyanka remained focused on her studies initially. “She’s a brilliant, intelligent girl and her objective was something else; this just happened,” Madhu elaborated, pointing out that Priyanka had harbored aspirations of becoming a criminal psychologist or an aeronautical engineer. “But destiny had other plans.”
Today, Priyanka Chopra has established herself as a global icon. Following her recent role in the American spy action series Citadel, she is set to star in two significant projects: the action-comedy Heads of State alongside Idris Elba and John Cena, and the action-drama The Bluff. Her story illustrates not only her personal resilience but also the broader journey of pursuing one’s dreams in the face of adversity.
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