Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar says Priyanka Chopra had ‘huge disadvantages’ when competing at Miss World 2000: ‘She’s a big boned girl’

He mentioned that despite being “hatti katti”, or someone of a heavy build, Priyanka worked on herself for Dostana opposite John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan. “She lost a lot of weight to look like the way she did in the film. She looked like a million dollars in Dostana. There’s no question about it. She had to work damn hard at it because she is not a delicate-looking girl. She’s a big boned girl. So, you are not only losing weight in your flesh, but you are also dealing with a skeleton that is hatti-katti. She is not a pushover. So, she was very focused,” recalled Kakkar.

Priyanka Chopra in Dostana.

Taking a cue from his remarks, let’s understand what it takes to go beyond your limits.

This story is a striking reminder of how our world still confuses appearance for ability, stressed Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist, energy healer and life coach.

“But what that story truly highlights is this: no label, no biased lens, and no box ever stood a chance against a woman who knows her worth,” expressed Delnna.

Adding that she has seen “many brilliant women are dimmed early by comments on their colour, weight, bone structure, or features,” Delnna said: “These labels seed self-doubt. But power doesn’t bloom from perfect symmetry. It blooms from relentless self-belief. Priyanka’s journey proved this. She didn’t win because she fit a mould. She won because she outshone it with fire, presence, intellect, and resilience. Real beauty is energy, not aesthetics. It’s the conviction in your voice when others doubt you. It’s showing up with grit when the world expects you to shrink.”

It’s daring to take space unapologetically, even when you don’t “look the part.”

So, what can help you?

Fuel your mind: Grow your knowledge and skills. Nothing is more magnetic than mastery.
Build self-worth: Affirm your value beyond looks. Keep a wins journal to track growth.
Anchor in your purpose: Let your mission be louder than any judgment.
Own your presence: Walk into rooms as if you belong. Because YOU DO!

“The world may still critique the wrapping. But true power lies in the soul inside it – fierce, luminous, and unstoppable,” said Delnna.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.