Happy Birthday Priyanka Chopra: Bollywood’s Desi girl is 32

After winning hearts with her drop-dead gorgeous looks, Priyanka Chopra made an entry into Bollywood that established her not only as one of the leading actresses but also a soulful performer with a brilliant voice. As the actress turns 32, we take a look at some of her top moments.

After being crowned Miss World in 2000, Priyanka made her entry into films with 2002 Tamil film 'Thamizhan'. However, her Bollywood debut came about with 'The Hero: Love Story of a Spy' which was a huge success. Her next performance in 'Andaaz' opposite Akshay Kumar earned her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi' and 'Aitraaz' were some of the movies that Priyanka appeared in at the initial stage of her career.

In 2006, Priyanka Chopra played a Television journalist in Rakesh Roshan's 'Krrish' opposite Hrithik Roshan. The film went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year. Another big release for Priyanka that year was Farhan Akhtar's action-thriller 'Don' with Shah Rukh Khan. It was declared a Box Office success both in India and overseas.

After a string of flops, Priyanka blew critics away with her impressive performance in Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Fashion’ (2008) where she played an ambitious supermodel who comes to terms with the disadvantages of being showbiz. She not only won the National Award but Filmfare Award, the IIFA Award and Screen Award for her performance.

Another big hit was Tarun Mansukhani’s rom-com ‘Dostana’ along with John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan. Another role that brought Priyanka much acclaim was that of a feisty Marathi woman in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Kaminey’. She also acted in ‘7 Khoon Maaf’, which earned her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination at the 57th Filmfare Awards.

n 2011, Priyanka Chopra reprised her role as Roma in 'Don 2'. Not only was the film a major success, but the actress also received immense praise for her action heroine persona. In 2012, Priyanka appeared with Hrithik Roshan in ‘Agneepath’. The film had a fantastic opening and Priyanka was praised for her performance of Kaali Gawde.

But her finest work till date is said to be Anurag Basu’s ‘Barfi’, wherein she played an autistic woman in love with a deaf, mute man. Priyanka bagged almost all the awards for her role in the film.

Apart from having a rocking career, Priyanka Chopra’s love life has been equally entertaining. When she made her entry into Bollywood, the actress is said to have gotten quite close to her ‘Andaaz’ co-star Akshay Kumar. Apparently, his wife Twinkle Khanna did not take too kindly to this and has forbidden Akshay from signing any film with the actress.

Priyanka was then said to be in a relationship with actor Harman Baweja for five years. However, the couple split after rumours of Priyanka’s increased closeness to ‘Kaminey’ co-star Shahid Kapoor made the rounds. Priyank and Shahid had an on-off relationship. However, they parted ways and are said to be good friends.

But Priyanka’s most-talked affair was with none other than Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan. The actress was always quite open about her affection and admiration for Shah Rukh Khan. Initially, industry folk including Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri brushed it off as professional behaviour and a harmless crush. However, after ‘Don 2’, the duo were known to spend a lot of time together. Shah Rukh was supposedly always looking out for Priyanka, they started attending film festivals and award shows together. Some rumours suggest that they couple even went as far to tie the knot. But, Gauri Khan had finally given her husband an ultimatum and forbade him from acting with the starlet.

Not only is Priyanka an established actress but she's a major pop influence as well. She first recorded the song 'Ullathai Killadhe' for a Tamil film in 2002. In August 2011, Universal Music Group signed Priynaka to a worldwide recording agreement with DesiHits.

The following year, Priyanka became the first Bollywood star signed by Creative Artists Agency and traveled to America to work on her album. The first single ‘In My City’ featuring Will.i.am, was a huge commercial success in India but not so much abroad. In 2013, her single ‘Exotic’ featuring American rapper Pitbull was also released. Her third single, a cover of Bonnie Raitt's ‘I Can't Make You Love Me’ was released on 22 April 2014.

Priyanka is also known to set the screen on fire with her dance moves. After months of persuasion, Priyanka agreed to do an item number in 'Shootout At Wadala'. However, her appearance in song 'Ram Chahe Leela' for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Ram-Leela’ was a huge hit.

Priyanka Chopra has been working hard as she gears up for the release of her upcoming film, ‘Mary-Kom’ which is a biopic based on an Indian boxer of the same name. The actress has undergone extensive training for the film. Priyanka has also been busy with filming for Zoya Akhtar's ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ in Europe.