Parineeti Chopra

October 1988) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films. Chopra initially aspired to pursue a career in investment banking, but after obtaining a triple honours degree (in business, finance and economics) from Manchester Business School she returned to India during the 2009 economic recession and joined Yash Raj Films as a public relations consultant. Later, she signed a three-film deal with the company as an actress.

Chopra made her acting debut with a supporting role in the 2011 romantic comedy Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, a moderate box-office success. Her performance in the film garnered critical appreciation and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The following year she played the lead female role in Ishaqzaade, a romantic drama that proved to be a critical and commercial success. Chopra was widely praised for her role which earned her several nominations in the Best Actress category (including Filmfare), and won her the National Film Award - Special Mention. She achieved further success for her leading roles in the 2013 dramedy Shuddh Desi Romance and the 2014 romantic comedy Hasee Toh Phasee.

In addition to acting in films, Chopra is active in humanitarian work, and has a number of endorsement deals. Her prime accomplishments have made her one of the most promising new actresses in India.

Early life and work

Manchester Business School: large, red-brick building with trees in front Chopra obtained a triple honours degree in business, finance and economics from Manchester Business School.

Chopra was born on 22 October 1988 in Ambala, Haryana into a Punjabi family. Her father, Pawan Chopra, is a businessman and supplier to the Indian Army at Ambala Cantonment and her mother is Reena Chopra. She has two brothers: Shivang and Saraj; actress Priyanka Chopra, Meera Chopra and Barbie Handa are her cousins. Chopra received her early education at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ambala Cantonment. In an Interview published in The Hindu, she revealed that she was a very good student and had always wanted to become an investment banker. At the age of 17, Chopra moved to London, where she received a triple honours degree in business, finance and economics from Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom.

In 2009 she returned to India in the wake of the economic recession and moved to Mumbai to stay with her cousin, Priyanka. During a visit to Yash Raj Films studio, Priyanka (who was shooting for Pyaar Impossible!) introduced Parineeti to the head of the public relations team of the company. Chopra obtained an internship in the marketing department, joining the production company as a public-relations consultant. She considered it a perfect job, because she could use what she had learned and work in films. Ironically, Chopra had disliked actors and acting; to her, the profession seemed like an excuse to wear too much makeup. While working and observing actors, however, her perception changed. She realised that she never understood acting and her respect for the profession increased.

Acting career

Debut and breakthrough (2011-2012)

A woman, looking straight, has a rose in her hand. Chopra at promotional event for Ladies vs Ricky Bahl

While working on promotions for Band Baaja Baaraat, Chopra realised that she wanted to become an actress and decided to resign from her executive position with Yash Raj Films to attend acting school. Film director Maneesh Sharma suggested signing Chopra to Aditya Chopra, vice-president of Yash Raj Films. Appalled by the idea of recruiting someone from his marketing team as an actress, the vice-president refused. When Parineeti Chopra told Sharma she was leaving her job to attend acting school he advised her to meet the company's casting director, who asked her to do a "dummy audition for fun". Chopra remembered "fooling around with a camera" and delivering lines by the character Geet from the film Jab We Met, never expecting producer Aditya Chopra to see the tape. However, when the producer saw the tape he was impressed with her acting. With Sharma describing her "phenomenal" in the screen test, Chopra was signed to a three-film deal; Chopra's colleagues later told her she was a "misfit in an office situation".

In 2011 Chopra made her screen debut in the romantic comedy Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, in a supporting role with Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma. The film describes how three girls who are tricked by a con artist avenge him by plotting the same trick for him. Chopra played the Delhi-based "rich and spoiled brat" Dimple Chadda, who is betrayed by the film's central character. The film received mixed reviews from critics, and was moderately successful at the box office; however, Chopra's performance was praised by film critics. Komal Nahta said, "Of the three other girls, Parineeti Chopra is undoubtedly the best. She has the best role, the best lines and hers is the best performance among the three. In fact, she provides a lot of light moments in the first half and, more importantly, in the second half too". Priyanka Roy of The Telegraph described Chopra as "natural" and wrote "Among the ladies, debutante Parineeti almost steals the show from Anushka. As a spoilt and nouveau-riche Delhi girl." The film earned her several awards, including the Filmfare Award, the Screen Award, the Apsara Award and the IIFA Award for best debut. Chopra also received nominations in the supporting category (including Filmfare) and won the Apsara and IIFA Awards for best supporting actress.

Chopra's second release, and her first lead role, was Habib Faisal's romantic drama Ishaqzaade with Arjun Kapoor. The film revolves around two political families, whose rivalry (and mutual hatred) go back generations. Chopra played the boisterous and feisty tomboy Zoya, a Muslim girl who marries a Hindu boy and gives birth to new rivalry in both families. The film received positive reviews from critics, and Chopra earned critical acclaim for her performance. Taran Adarsh observed, "Parineeti Chopra is simply fantastic in this high-voltage drama. Playing the part of a spirited gun-toting girl, she is not the regular timid, decorous, withdrawn Hindi film heroine. She portrays the violent behavior coupled with the audacious and brash attitude with aplomb" and Reviewer Mrigank Dhaniwala of Koimoi added that "Parineeti Chopra, whom we loved in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, shines again in a complex and intense role. She looks very good and acts like a song. Arjun and Parineeti's on-screen chemistry and excellent performances are the highlights of the film." Film critic Rajeev Masand lebelled her the "biggest strength of the film". The film grossed over INR 46 crore (US$7.6 million) at the domestic box office, and was credited as a super hit. Chopra earned a National Film Award - Special Mention at the 60th National Film Awards, receiving her first nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, Screen and Apsara awards.

Recent work (2013-present)

Chopra next appeared alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Vaani Kapoor in the romantic comedy-drama Shuddh Desi Romance, her second collaboration with Maneesh Sharma. The film, set in Jaipur, received positive feedback from the critics and Chopra's portrayal of Gayatri, an outspoken and rebellious girl, was particularly praised. CNN-IBN noted that the film belonged to Chopra, who "turns Gayatri into the most real woman one have encountered on screen", and the critic Mayank Shekhar added "Parineeti's act in the film's first half is nothing short of National Award winning material." Shuddh Desi Romance collected INR 46 crore (US$7.6 million) at the domestic box-office and emerged as a commercial success. Chopra garnered several Best Actress nominations, including her second Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.

Chopra's first release of 2014 was Dharma Productions' romantic comedy Hasee Toh Phasee, her first role outside the Yash Raj Films banner. She featured in the role of a mad scientist alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Adah Sharma. Directed by Vinil Matthew and jointly produced by Anurag Kashyap and Karan Johar, the film was a moderate success and received generally positive reviews. Chopra's performance was well received, with Hindustan Times publishing that she "re-defines" the concept of a Bollywood heroine in the film. Film critic Komal Nahta wrote "Parineeti Chopra delivers an award-winning performance. She is extraordinary and lives the role of Meeta, making every scene in which she appears immensely watchable for her brilliance!"

As of February 2014, Chopra has several projects in various stages of production. She is simultaneously filming for Habib Faisal's Daawat-e-Ishq (her second collaboration with Faisal) alongside Aditya Roy Kapoor and Anupam Kher based on dowry and Shaad Ali's Kill Dil, with Ranveer Singh and Ali Zafar, describing it as the first "glamorous" role of her career. She has signed Illuminati Films's next production to be directed by Dinesh Vijan alongside Saif Ali Khan.

In the media

Parineeti Chopra is smiling at the cameraa Chopra at the Aamby Valley City Glitterati press meet in 2013

In addition to acting in films, Chopra is active in charity work and supports a number of causes. She walked the ramp at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week to support the Shabana Azmi Mijwan Welfare Society, an NGO dedicated to empowering girls. Chopra said, "I don't want it to be just about ramp walk, but I seriously and genuinely feel for what Mijwan and what Manish and Shabanaji are doing. For such an initiative, I just could not say no. I had to be a part of it." She also appeared on NDTV's Greenathon, an initiative to support eco-friendliness and investigate poor electricity supplies in rural villages, to lend her support. Apart from charity work, she serves as an ambassador for a number of brands. Chopra endorses brands such as Kurkure, Nivea, Maaza and Spinz, WeChat, Pantene and Mahindra scooty. She become the first Bollywood star to endorse products from both Coke (Maaza) and PepsiCo (Kurkure) at the same time.

The actress' roles and performances have been studied by critics. NDTV noted, "[Chopra]....is as far removed from the standard Bollywood bombshell as it is possible for a lead actress to be. She's more girl next door than glamour doll, with no obvious oomph in evidence, and freely confesses to a battle with the weighing scale". Following her debut, she has been widely regarded as one of the most promising actresses in Hindi cinema. The Indian Express labelled her the "most brightest and talented" newcomer of this generation, noting "her infectious amount of energy". While discussing her career in a 2013 article, CNN-IBN noted, "[she]....is one of the few actresses in the current lot who has a strong screen presence which demands absolute attention from the viewer. When she is on screen, one can't notice other actors--Parineeti engages you in such a way". In a 2013 interview with Hindustan Times, Chopra revealed that she intends to do films, where she has lot to perform and not the films, which has high production value. The actress appeared on Verve's list of most powerful women in 2011. In 2012, she featured on Rediff.com's annual list of Bollywood's Best Actresses.

Galleries of Parineeti Chopra