Priyanka Chopra has been a source of national pride ever since she won the Miss World title in 2000. Following her victory, she received numerous film offers, leading to her successful career. However, her hometown, Bareilly, wasn’t entirely supportive of her achievement. Her mother, Madhu Chopra, shared that there was a negative perception at the time, with some believing beauty pageants exploited women.

Madhu Chopra, the proud mother of global icon Priyanka Chopra, recently reflected on her daughter’s Miss World 2000 win during an interview with the Something Bigger Show on YouTube. Recalling that time, she shared a bittersweet memory, revealing that when Priyanka returned to Bareilly after her victory, the local community wasn’t ready to embrace her achievement.

Explaining the situation, Priyanka Chopra’s mother, Madhu Chopra, shared that back then, there was a prevalent belief that beauty pageants promoted exploitation of women. Some even argued that these contests objectified and shamed women. As a result, the organizers faced significant challenges in obtaining permission for Priyanka’s visit to Bareilly, which came with several restrictions.

She was eventually allowed to visit but only within the confines of the Army area. Her welcome celebration was limited to the Army club, attended solely by Army officers, with no civilians permitted. Madhu expressed disappointment, saying that while winning the Miss World title was a monumental achievement, Priyanka’s own home state failed to celebrate her success. Despite this, the actress remained undeterred.

Madhu Chopra emphasized that Priyanka was never exploited and pursued her path on her own terms. She seized the opportunity and excelled with grace and confidence. When Priyanka arrived in Mumbai, the reception was entirely different—her fans welcomed her warmly, and she received a flood of film offers.

Initially hesitant to join the film industry due to her focus on education, Priyanka eventually made her acting debut with the Tamil film Thamizhan alongside Vijay. Her Bollywood journey began with the 2003 film The Hero: Love Story of a Spy.