Exclusive - Priyanka Chahar Choudhary: I was body shamed for being underweight, it affected my confidence

Priyanka Chahar Choudhary is best remembered for her bold, daring personality from Bigg Boss 16. The actress, who started her journey as a VJ from Jaipur at a local level, is today one of the most popular actresses of Indian Television. She was loved for her role of Tejo from Udaariyaan, but it was Bigg Boss 16 that changed things for her overnight. Audience fell in love with real-life personality and Priyanka was called a heroine material and compared to Deepika Padukone by host Salman Khan and filmmaker Farah Khan respectively. However, reaching here from a small town of Rajasthan was not easy and the actress had to deal with her share of ups and downs. Priyanka joined ETimes TV for our exclusive segment, Tellyblazer where she spoke about her early days, struggles and facing rejections. Excerpts from the interview.



When was the time you realised you can be an actor?
I started acting around 5-6 years ago. I used to do anchoring at a local level then I gave an audition for a German movie from there the opportunity to become an actress cracked. The process of being an actor really fascinated me. Everybody was around me, taking care of me and I was the centre of attraction, I didn’t know how well I was acting but I liked being on the sets. It felt very good and I just started my career and did not think much about my destination, how far I’ll reach. I started to earn for myself and Uske baad joh acting ka keeda ghusa hai… now I love acting.

But did you ever imitate any Bollywood star or dreamt of being a star?
As a kid we were not allowed to watch anything apart from Doordarshan. There was no cable connection at home. Our dad would allow us to watch the news. That time I would find the job of a news anchor very fascinating. I didn’t even know what they were called, I just wanted to do it. But I felt I’d never get an opportunity to do this as everyone in the family comes from an Army background. I never knew I would take it so seriously and land up here.

You have so many siblings, how was the atmosphere at home while growing up?
Yes, the atmosphere at our house while growing up was very strict. We had so many brothers and sisters and our dad knew strictness se he kaam chalne waala hai.. thankfully all of us are really good and disciplined and well-mannered. I would like to credit our father for our disciplined upbringing because he was very strict and we were able to achieve things in life. For me especially strictness was very necessary as I was always a free bird and only being strict could control me. Our mom was our go-to person to keep secrets and she's the most chilled out person.

How supportive was your father, your parents to let you join showbiz?
No matter how strict my dad has been, luckily he never stopped me from chasing my dreams. He never said no to me for anything. When I got a call from a local channel from Jaipur to be a VJ, I asked him and he said no our family has no one in the television and media industry, let it be don’t do. That evening he was sitting on the terrace, I mustered a lot of courage and asked him again. This time with full emotion, I assured him nothing would go wrong and have faith in me. I had just passed 12th class and my father agreed to let me do it. After that, he never said no to me for anything. From there my journey started.

Continue: In fact, while I was working as an anchor after college, I would do it after college and joined gym also. So my father got me a flat on rent in the middle of Jaipur city so that I don’t get exhausted running from one corner to another as our house was on the outskirts of Jaipur. He was very supportive.




You are 4 sisters and two brothers, was there a pressure of having a male child? Did you ever feel the pressure?
I never took or felt bad about the pressure of having a male child in the family. I always find these situations very comical, Mujhe hassi aati hai… ke kyu yaar? But now when I see we are six brothers and sisters. After my elder sister’s wedding the entire house felt empty. I started to think Jinke Sirf do bacche hote hain unka kya hota hai… I was the naughtiest one and would keep comparing. But our parents never made anyone feel less important. My father always said you are like my son, though I objected to this also why this comparison between beta and beti… I’m your daughter.

How was your parent's reaction to this and was there any bhed bhaav between male and female child during growing up years?
It was my grandfather's obsession to have a male child. In fact, we were five sisters and one of our sisters passed away when she was very young, she was a twin sister. It was for my Dadaji’s wish ke betiyaan hoti gayi to have a son. We were five sisters then and when our brother was born and by that time our grandfather passed away. Unko he dekhna tha… pote ke chehra.

There are times when you have a few restrictions in family when it comes to clothes what to wear and what not to do. Did your family had these restrictions?
There were restrictions while growing up. He never underlined them but it was very clear that we are not supposed to wear revealing clothes. I would not be allowed to wear sleeveless while growing up, I never wore it but now my parents have also evolved with time. I think bacche Badal dete hain parents ko. My eldest sister never wore jeans while growing up. I feel kids have the power to make their parents understand and evolve their mindset.

How was the initial period in Mumbai?
When I shifted to Mumbai I had made my mind very clear that I have got the opportunity to stay alone in Mumbai and chase my dream. So I would never misuse this freedom and trust that my father has shown. Because what happens when you see all this glitz and glamour of the city, you tend to lose your ground. So my focus was very clear to just work. Touchwood I never had to struggle too much. Shayad I was so focused and hard working that God just kept giving me opportunities.

How did you manage your expenses?
I started with print shoots and started earning and it made things easy for me to survive in Mumbai. I never got rigid that I will only do acting, I knew I have to manage my expenses on my own. Mujhe mera rent bhi pay karna hai, guzara bhi karna hai.. I was staying in PG at that time and I had my savings from the anchoring jobs that I did in Jaipur. I survived on that savings. Rest I did not have any other lavish expenses. I’m very sound as a person when it comes to meeting expenses. I do it very well.

Did you face rejections during the initial phase?
I have gone through a lot of rejections. I used to audition for everything but would never get a reply. I would keep asking yaar call kyu nahi karte… I realised that I was not a mature actor at that time and I didn’t know anything about acting. With years I’ve learnt and I’ve worked on myself and probably that’s why I didn’t bag anything. I feel rejections are very important for every individual and it makes you a different person. For me rejections and failures are no big deal, I am prepared for them anytime.
In showbiz there are times when you get replaced overnight, did it ever happen to you?
It has happened to me once but I’m a very positive person and I don't feel bad. I was shooting a song in Punjab around 4-5 years ago and I bagged another one. I was to shoot for the song in the next 2-3 days. I was supposed to shoot for another one. I was staying in Punjab waiting to shoot for my next song. I got a call just a night ago and was told they had changed the artist. I loved that song, it was very nice and I felt bad because I wanted to do that song. But it didn’t work out. I didn’t feel bad, I moved on very easily. Maybe I have vented out so many emotions in the past that I’ve become strong. I don’t feel bad.

Women go through many kinds of shaming while growing up, how was your journey did you also had to face it for weight, body, complexion or anything?
Yes, I have faced body shaming in fact it happened in the Bigg Boss house as well. Now, there is an awareness about it but people still body shame others for being overweight or underweight. I was shamed for being underweight. I feel after 25 everyone's body needs exercise. It’s not always that you are working out to get a hot, attractive figure, sometimes you can be working out to be healthy physically. Everyone has their own choice as to why they want to do it.

Did if affect your confidence?
When I was shamed for being underweight, I lost confidence. It affected me initially but I am very stubborn as I said I don’t feel bad about things easily. But initially, it did affect me and I would feel awkward sitting socially. Like today I am sitting here and giving this interview confidently, but back then when I was anchoring they would pass comments like “arre ye toh Choti si bacchi hai patli si, Dubli see..”. I used to feel but you should see how I’m doing my job or how good I'm at it, and how my voice is. They would not give me events because of it. Bachpana tha tab toh it would affect me but now I don’t let it affect me.

You were trolled for your voice. Your take?

I used to keep telling everyone yaar main anchoring karti thi, the voice is my strength. I’m blessed with this voice and I thank God for it always.