NEW DELHI: Priyanka Chopra continues to make waves and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. She has recently been declared the only woman among the top 10 celebrities in the Forbes Indian Celebrity 100 list. Not only that, she has also been given an honourary doctorate degree by the Bareilly International University.
Speaking to the media at an event, Priyanka on these accolades said, “Being the only woman [there], that’s bittersweet for me. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve had the achievements I’ve had, which puts me in that position, and I have that power, on par with a lot of my male colleagues. My work matters, my achievements matter, and I don’t let anyone pull me down.”
“I work really hard and don’t take vacations. Since I’ve come to India, I’ve only been working. And I’m rewarded for it. I also live my life in two countries. It’s really difficult. But, at the same time, it makes me feel like… look at the disparity! You know the disparity that we keep talking about, it’s still there,” she added.
Priyanka is now a permanent feature in Hollywood after the success of her TV show, Quantico, and film, Baywatch.
Though Priyanka was unable to personally go and receive the doctorate degree due to foggy weather which cancelled her flight, she was ecstatic about the honour. On this she said, “My Mom will be very happy today and I think my dad only made it happen! Because it was their life’s dream for me to become a doctor.”
The 35-year-old actor, who lost her father in 2013, added, “My dad would have been most excited [today].”
Priyanka, who was crowned Miss World in 2000 at the age of 17, has often rued that she couldn’t pursue higher studies. “I never wanted to be a doctor, anyway! I had blood phobia, and would faint at the sight of blood. I like numbers, and physics, and wanted to be an engineer more than anything. I’ve been offered honorary doctorates before, a couple of times. But, receiving it from the Bareilly International University is special. Bareilly is my hometown; it’s where my roots are.”
Unfortunately, the actress was unable to make it and she expressed her disappointment in a note which she posted on Twitter. She wrote that she was really looking forward to going to Bareilly to not only receive her doctorate but also reconnect with old friends and the city that has been an important part of her life.
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) December 24, 2017