Priyanka Chopra’s family said ‘women of our house don’t do such things’ after mom Madhu Chopra told them about Miss India selection

This is when Madhu took charge and sat her daughter down. She told her that her regular life wasn’t going anywhere, but the Miss India opportunity might not come again. It was then that Priyanka decided to give it a shot. She told her mother, “I will give it my best.” The 18-year-old did exactly that, and emerged as the runner-up of Miss India 2000 and went on to win Miss World 2000.

However, Madhu Chopra not only had to convince Priyanka but also had to persuade her husband’s side of the family, who were ‘overtly protective’ of the women in the house. Madhu shared, “Her maternal family had no objections, they also believed the same way as I did. But her paternal family had a lot of issues, ‘humaare ghar ki ladkiyan ye nahi karti hain’ (our girls don’t do such things). My sister-in-law was from a conservative background and had three brothers who were in the army, and army men are overtly protective for their females, so they were very protective. But again, I sat them down, and they put their things across and I put my reasoning across. Then my brother-in-law said, ‘Ok, let her take the opportunity, but there is one condition, she will never go alone. Either you or her father will have to accompany her’.”

Madhu agreed and gave up her career as a doctor in the army. She added, “This was another compromise I made. I really wanted her not to miss the opportunity. They were like, ‘Forget about your career, and go with Priyanka.’ I didn’t even think twice before leaving my career for her because I thought I had enjoyed my life, now if my company will help her build a good future, I will do that.”

Priyanka Chopra and her mother remain inseparable, and are often seen together at events around the world.