Priyanka was born on July 18, 1982, in the Chopra family consisting of her dad, Dr. Ashok and mom, Dr. Madhu (nee Akhauri), and has one younger brother. Her dad is Punjabi-speaking, while her mom is from Bihar. As a child, she suffered from Asthma and was very close to her dad. Her family affectionately called her Mimi.

While she was born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, she also spent her childhood in Rae Barreilly, in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Lucknow, where she was enrolled in the La Martiniere Girls' School. These frequent re-locations took place as Ashok was a doctor in the Indian Army. She subsequently re-located to the U.S. where she studied in Newton's Newton North High School and then in Cedar Rapid's John F. Kennedy High School in Massachusetts and Iowa respectively.

In 2000 she returned to India and enrolled in Jai Hind College and Basant Singh Institute of Science in Churchgate, Bombay, but had to leave abruptly as she was crowned Miss India. She was subsequently crowned Miss World in the same year - a year which proved to be a year for Indian Beauty Queens - as Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza were also crowned Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific respectively. Ironically, beauty pageants are banned in India's conservative state, Uttar Pradesh.

After completing her responsibilities as a Beauty Queen, she first appeared on the tinsel screen in India in a Tamil movie 'Thamizhan'.

She made her debut in Bollywood with 'The Hero' in 2002, and then went on to act in over 28 movies, as well as lent her voice as a playback singer in 'Barsaat (2005)'. She has won 11 awards to date for her performance in 'Andaaz', 'Aitraaz', 'The Hero', 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi', & 'Krrish'.

As of June 2007, she is involved in the filming of 'Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam', 'Kajri', 'Drona', 'London Dreams', 'Qurbani', 'Chamki Chameli', 'Love Story 2050' amongst others.



Winner of the Miss India and Miss World beauty pageants in 2000. Achievements: she is the only Indian in the USA to have been selected at the state level for the National Opus Honor Choir, extensive charity work back in India and the USA, and joined the CAF and CII in their literacy program and is their ambassador. Member of the support group for the Thalassemic children in U.P., India, participated in the adult education awareness program with the non-governmental organizations in the peripheral areas of Bareilly, joined the Indian Government-sponsored Polio Eradication Program as a volunteer. Raised funds for the destitute in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, by participating in a church program. Did her schooling from La Martinière in Lucknow. She completed tenth grade in Boston and wanted to become a software engineer or a criminal psychologist. Has a younger brother. Listed as number 2 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25-2006) Listed #1 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/2006).