Last week, Priyanka Chopra made a highly anticipated return to India after a significant absence. The actress, now residing in the US, attended the launch of her new brand, Max Factor, in Mumbai. In a recent interview with Forbes India, she shared her insights on the differences between working in Bollywood and Hollywood.
Priyanka reminisced about the slow-motion dancing and lip-syncing that are hallmarks of Bollywood films. Earlier this year, she showcased her passion for Bollywood music by joyfully dancing at the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.
When comparing her experiences in both industries, Priyanka noted, “Every country has its own cultural nuances that influence how we work. One significant difference I’ve observed is that Hollywood involves much more paperwork—often receiving up to 100 emails by the next day. Timings are precise and depend on when you wrapped the night before. There’s little flexibility unless you’re working with a filmmaker who has a different style. It’s very structured and organized.”
She added, “In Bollywood, we often rely on ‘jugaad’ (improvisation) to get things done. We approach our work with a sense of romanticism, believing, ‘It’ll work out, we’ll manage it,’ which reflects our cultural styles. Our creativity can sometimes be more organic. That’s the main difference I’ve noticed; otherwise, filmmaking around the world speaks a similar language.”
Most recently, Priyanka starred in the American romantic comedy Love Again and will next appear in Heads of State, alongside Idris Elba and John Cena. She is also set to portray a 19th-century Caribbean female pirate in The Bluff.