Along with ruling Bollywood and making her presence felt in Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra is also a philanthropist and is seen actively campaigning for social causes especially those related to women. As a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, she is seen touring the world for change and is often spotted in the company of other philanthropists including Malala Yousafzai.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Priyanka said, “Philanthropy was a very big part of my upbringing. My family always believed that no matter where you are, no matter how bad your conditions are, there will always be someone who is worse off than you. So, you have to sort of understand the privilege we come from, and from that privilege comes the social responsibility.”
Priyanka has often urged people to speak up for children. “I think that from the time when I became Miss World, I became an adult; and even though I was 17, I grew up suddenly. I felt that I have a position that [I could] use to be able to actually make a tangible difference in the world, and not just talk about it but do it,” she said.
“And then, I started looking for ways to be able to do it. So, I associated with a lot of causes, I met a lot of people, and a lot of organisations that actually did what I wanted to do. My relationship with Unicef started about 11 years ago and it still continues,” says the 35-year-old actor.
Priyanka said that she often gets questioned on child and arranged marriages in India.
On this she said, “It makes me want to come back and do something about it. I’m not a liar, so I can’t turn around and say it doesn’t [happen]. But at the same time, I’m not going to be someone who says that’s all India stands for. Every country has its own issues. We have these issues; they [West] have their issues. The point is finding a solution, and that’s what I try to focus on.”
