Priyanka Chopra may have attained the pinnacle of success, but she tries not to let it get in the way of her family time. Despite widespread fame and popularity, the Heads of State actor believes in staying rooted and grounded, and prioritising her loved ones.
During a conversation with podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, Priyanka was asked if she still goes to family functions, despite being so famous; responding, she said: “So, should I not dance at my brother’s wedding? Family is the most important thing to me. My fame is a by-product of my job. It does not define me.”
Categorically stating that fame is not her job, she continued: “I am very clear about that. I’m not famous for a living. I work for a living. And fame just comes with it. So it is not something I can control; it is just something that was thrust upon me.”
Ambition vs family
According to Ashish Pillay, Psychologist at Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust, Priyanka Chopra’s mindset on ambition is a beautiful example of self-awareness. She doesn’t reject ambition, but acknowledges that it does not need to be the kind that’s rooted in ego, competition, or blind pursuit.
While work is essential to her, she also prides herself on being close to her family. She embraces professional growth but not at the cost of joy or integrity. “She understands that ambition can be deeply personal, and it doesn’t always need to be broadcast or validated externally,” he said.
That humility, coming from public figures, makes a huge impact. “In a world that celebrates hustle culture, their conversation gently offers another path. One that values consistency over obsession, presence over perfection, and self-care over self-sacrifice,” mentioned Pillay.
Priyanka wishes to be close to her daughter (Source: Instagram/@priyankachopra)
“Healthy ambition makes you come alive, it inspires you to grow, without losing your soul in the process. It allows room for gratitude, curiosity, and self-compassion. Toxic ambition, on the other hand, demands constant hustle, breeds insecurity, and measures worth only by productivity or accolades,” said Pillai, adding that Chopra’s message for all of us is to live well, be kind to every person, enjoy the little things, and not to overthink.
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According to him, ambition doesn’t have to be a storm; it can be a quiet, steady fire that keeps you warm, not one that burns you out. Chopra had also stated in an interview that she wishes to be close to her daughter as she grows up.
“I hope her relationship with me will be outside of my job. I do think that I hope, when she sees the trajectory of the choices I’ve made over time, she is proud of my choices,” she had told Access Hollywood in a previous interview, adding, “I would really like her to like me, and be like, ‘I love hanging out with my mom’, because I was like that before I till I became a teenager.”
Quality time spent with family, allowing them to teach you valuable lessons, and celebrating effort instead of just results can go a long way in bridging conflicts that arise out of balancing work and personal life.
