Dreams in her eyes, passion in her feet; Priyanka's first meet that changed her world.

The Bollywood industry is filled with inspiring stories about popular stars. One such star is Priyanka Chopra, greatly known not only in India but all over the world.
Through her acting career, Priyanka saw many producers who failed to realize either her talent or her slinky looks. Sunil Darshan, the producer-director of 'Andaaz,' recently gave some memories concerning Priyanka's early days in the industry.

Priyanka first came into the limelight when she won the Miss World title. Thereafter that glorious win, she began thinking of acting. Her first movie was, 'The Hero Love Story of a Spy,' but Priyanka really showed her mettle in her second film, 'Andaaz.' In 'Andaaz,' she worked with Lara Dutta and Akshay Kumar. She received an applause from the masses, while the critics had only words of praise for her.

Sunil Darshan had to ponder a big decision concerning the casting of his film 'Andaaz.' He had to search out the right actress to fill a special role.
He wanted someone who could stand out next to Lara Dutta. One day while at his office, he received a phone call. Someone wanted to introduce a new actress to him, and Sunil is forever waiting to see anyone new. He asked the caller to come and see him at the office.

The one who came to meet him was Prakash Jaju, secretary to Priyanka Chopra. Priyanka had already won Miss World by this time, but Sunil knew little about her acting capabilities. When he first met her, he was not impressed. At one point he was not very sure about Priyanka. He thought, "She is not anything special." But, during the conversation, Priyanka made an impression and began to sparkle.

After about fifteen minutes of talk, it suddenly dawned upon him and he thought, "Wow her eyes are really beautiful!" He also noted her voice. It was reminiscent of Rekha, the Bollywood diva actress, known for her exquisite voice and strong presence. This was indeed a huge compliment for Priyanka as Rekha is ranked among the top actresses in Indian cinema.
Sunil then mentioned how back then many people did not believe in her performing abilities. "Nobody trusted her talent," he recollected. But he saw something that many did not. He was able to see her hunger to improve, to grow, and to learn. That is one of the main reasons he decided to take a chance on her in his film.

Priyanka justified his faith. In "Andaaz', her performance was great. The audience loved her acting in the movie. After this movie, Priyanka never looked back, kept getting more offers, and very quickly made it to the acme of Bollywood.

In another story , Priyanka's co-star in "Fashion," Arjun Bajwa, went on to describe her as a very strong person. He shared that she continued shooting for 'Fashion' even while her father was battling with cancer. This indicates that she is not only a talented woman but one with an emotional strength.

From being a small-town girl to Miss World and becoming a successful actress in both Bollywood and Hollywood, is an inspiring story in itself. She has learnt the trick of the trade in American TV shows and films, which stand as a significant achievement for any Indian actress. Besides, she has won numerous awards for her works.
The next time you see a movie with Priyanka Chopra, think that even the extremely famous stars had to begin somewhere in their journey. They faced their challenges and uncertainties, but they never give up. That determination to pursue their passion is what makes their stories special.

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