Parineeti Chopra

Parineeti Chopra

Parineeti Chopra is seen smiling

Parineeti Chopra at the launch of Pantene's Proof not Promises campaign
Born October 22, 1988
Ambala, Haryana, India
Nationality Indian
Ethnicity Punjabi
Alma mater University of Manchester
Occupation Actress
Years active 2011–present
Relatives See Chopra family[1]
Awards Full list

Parineeti Chopra (pronounced [pəriːniːt̪iː ˈtʃoːpɽaː]; born 22 October 1988) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films. She has received several awards and nominations, including a Filmfare and National Film Award. 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. Her other successful films were the romantic comedies Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) and Hasee Toh Phasee (2014).

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.[2]

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.[3][4][5] 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 Mannara are her cousins.[6][5][7][8][9] Chopra received her early education at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ambala Cantonment.[10] 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.[4] 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.[4][11]

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.[4][11][12] 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.[13][14]

Acting career

Debut and breakthrough (2011–12)

Parineeti Chopra with her cousin Priyanka Chopra.

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.[14] When Parineeti Chopra told Sharma she was leaving her job to attend acting school he advised her to meet the company's casting director,[11] 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,[15] Chopra was signed to a three-film deal;[16] Chopra's colleagues later told her she was a "misfit in an office situation".[14]

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 take revenge on 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;[17][18] 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".[19] 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."[20] 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 actress category at Filmfare) and won the Apsara and IIFA Awards in the same category.[21][22]

Chopra's second release was Habib Faisal's romantic drama Ishaqzaade in which she played a leading role opposite 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.[23] 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",[24] and Rajeev Masand labelled her the "biggest strength of the film".[25] The film grossed over INR46 crore (US$7.3 million) at the domestic box office, and was termed a super hit by Box Office India.[26] Chopra earned a National Film Award – Special Mention at the 60th National Film Awards, and received first nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, Screen and Apsara Awards.[21][27][28]

2013–present

Chopra (center) with Vaani Kapoor (left) and Sushant Singh Rajput at a promotional event for Shuddh Desi Romance in 2013

Chopra next appeared alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Vaani Kapoor in the romantic comedy-drama Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), 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",[29] and the critic Mayank Shekhar added "Parineeti’s act in the film’s first half is nothing short of National Award winning material."[30] Shuddh Desi Romance collected INR46 crore (US$7.3 million) at the domestic box-office and emerged as a commercial success.[31] Chopra garnered several Best Actress nominations, including her second Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.[32]

Chopra's first of three releases 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.[33][34] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV wrote that Chopra was "pitch-perfect with her goofball act" and Hindustan Times published that she re-defined the concept of a Bollywood heroine with the film.[34][35]

Habib Faisal's dowry-based social comedy film Daawat-e-Ishq marked Chopra's second collaboration with Faisal. She was cast as Gulrez "Gullu" Qadir, a middle-class salesgirl from Hyderabad alongside Aditya Roy Kapoor and Anupam Kher.[36] The film received mixed reviews though Chopra was praised. Film critic Sarita A Tanwar from Daily News Analysis found Chopra to be "the best thing about the film" and added, "She shines in every scene. She does what she does every single time — rises head and shoulders above the film and her costars."[37] Chopra next played her first "glamorous role" in Shaad Ali's crime film Kill Dil, co-starring Govinda, Ranveer Singh and Ali Zafar.[38] Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com found the film to be a "disaster" and wrote that "Chopra is terribly miscast and wears clothes that should have never left the wardrobe".[39] Both Daawat-e-Ishq and Kill Dil were box office flops.[40]

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."[41] 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.[42] 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.[43] She became the first Bollywood star to endorse products from both Coke (Maaza) and PepsiCo (Kurkure) at the same time.[44]

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".[12] Following her debut, she has been widely regarded as one of the most promising actresses in Hindi cinema.[45] The Indian Express labelled her the "most brightest and talented" newcomer of this generation, noting "her infectious amount of energy".[46] 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".[47] 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.[48] The actress appeared on Verve‍ '​s list of most powerful women in 2011.[49] In 2012, she featured on Rediff.com's annual list of Bollywood's Best Actresses.[50]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Ladies vs Ricky Bahl Dimple Chaddha
2012 Ishaqzaade Zoya Qureshi
2013 Shuddh Desi Romance Gayatri
2014 Hasee Toh Phasee Meeta Solanki
2014 Daawat-e-Ishq Gulrez "Gullu" Qadir
2014 Kill Dil Disha

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 India's Best Cinestars Ki Khoj Mentor Reality show[51]

Awards and nominations

Among Chopra's film awards are a National Film Award – Special Mention for Ishaqzaade (2012) and a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for Ladies vs Ricky Bahl.

References

  1. ↑ Coutinho, Natasha (2 September 2013). "Chopra family thrilled". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Coutinho, Natasha (2 September 2013). "Parineeti Chopra: From PR person to face of YRF". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Birthday Bells". Dainik Bhaskar. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bhattacharya, Budhaditya (22 June 2012). "Films for real!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Parineeti Chopra: Who is she?". India Today. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  6. ↑ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/priyanka-chopra-another-cousin-on-the-block/1/199130.html
  7. ↑ Sharma, Amrapali (10 February 2012). "Parineeti Chopra blindly follows Priyanka". The Times Of India. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Priyanka’s family thrilled". The Tribune. 1 December 2000. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "Here's Priyanka Chopra's another cousin on the block!". India Today. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Singh, Suhani (1 March 2013). "6 Stars in the Making". India Today. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Kulkarni, Onkar (5 May 2012). "Rising star". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Sharma, Sarika (20 June 2012). "Who is Parineeti Chopra?". NDTV. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  13. ↑ Upadhyay, Karishma (11 May 2012). "Miss Ishaqzaade". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Jha, Nishita (May 2012). "Divas vs Parineeti Chopra". Tehelka 9 (20). Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Parineeti Chopra is B-town's new entrant". The Times Of India. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  16. ↑ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (22 May 2012). "Sunshine girl". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "Ladies vs Ricky Bahl gets mixed reviews from film critics". Oneindia. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  18. ↑ "New Releases Poor Opening Ladies V Ricky Bahl Decent First Week". Box Office India. 17 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  19. ↑ Nahta, Komal (9 December 2011). "Ladies VS Ricky Bahl Review". Koimoi. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  20. ↑ Roy, Priyanka (10 December 2011). "Rom con". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Parineeti Chopra: Awards & nominations". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "7th Apsara Awards Winners". Apsara Awards. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  23. ↑ "Ishaqzaade gets thumbs up from critics". Hindustan Times. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  24. ↑ Adarsh, Taran (11 May 2012). "Ishaqzaade Review". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  25. ↑ Masand, Rajeev (25 May 2012). "Masand: 'Ishaqzaade' is far from perfect". CNN-IBN. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  26. ↑ "Rowdy Rathore Bumper Opening In Single Screens Good At Multiplexes". Box Office India. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  27. ↑ "60th National Film Awards – 2012" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  28. ↑ "8th Apsara Awards Nominations". Apsara Awards. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  29. ↑ Masand, Rajeev (7 September 2013). "'Shuddh Desi Romance' review: It's a non-formulaic, charming little film". CNN-IBN. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  30. ↑ Shekhar,Mayank (6 September 2013). "Shuddh Desi Romance Review By Mayank Shekhar". The W14.com. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  31. ↑ "Warning Dull Phat Poster Nikhla Hero Low First Week". Box Office India. 28 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  32. ↑ "59th Idea Filmfare Awards Nominations". Filmfare. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Parineeti Chopra Filmography". Box Office India. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Kaushal, Sweta (7 February 2014). "Movie review: Parineeti Chopra re-defines Bollywood heroine in Hasee Toh Phasee". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  35. ↑ Chatterjee, Saibal (7 February 2014). "Hasee Toh Phasee". NDTV. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Daawat-e-Ishq review: Aditya Roy Kapur, Parineeti Chopra fail to make a delicious film". Firstpost. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  37. ↑ Tanwar, Sarita A (19 September 2014). "Film review: Parineeti Chopra shines but 'Daawat-e-Ishq' drags on without clarity". Business Standard. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  38. ↑ "Parineeti Chopra set to defy her tomboyish-image in Shaad Ali's Kill Dil". Hindustan Times. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  39. ↑ "Review: Kill Dil is a disaster!". Rediff.com. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  40. ↑ "After two flops in 2014, Parineeti Chopra hopes 2015 is ‘better’". The Indian Express. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  41. ↑ "Parineeti Chopra's graceful walk gets thumbs-up at WIFW". Mid Day. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  42. ↑ "Check Out: B-Town stars at NDTV Greenathon". Bollywood Hungama. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  43. ↑ Awaasthi, Kavita (6 April 2013). "Gen-next Bollywood actors: the hottest new players in ad world". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  44. ↑ Gupta, Surajeet Das & Malvania, Urvi (5 December 2013). "In 2013, a new crop of actors hits the jackpot". Business Standard. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  45. ↑ "NEWBILE SIX!". The Telegraph. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  46. ↑ Ramsubramaniam, Nikhil (1 May 2012). "I hope I am accepted as Zoya in 'Ishaqzaade': Parineeti Chopra". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  47. ↑ "Parineeti Chopra: Watch her closely, she'll surprise you!". CNN-IBN. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  48. ↑ Singh, Prashant (29 January 2013). "I am not a showpiece: Parineeti Chopra". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  49. ↑ Uttamchandani, Dishina (June 2012). "Power Moment". Verve 20 (6). Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  50. ↑ "Bollywood's 10 Best Actresses Of 2012". Rediff.com. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  51. ↑ "Parineeti Chopra makes her big television debut". India Today. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.

Further reading

  • Talati-Parikh, Sitanshi (September 2012). "Girl On A Wire". Verve 20 (9). Retrieved 2 February 2013.

External links

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