Priyanka Chopra Jonas effortlessly moves between acting, producing, and being an entrepreneur, and she does it all over the world.
So, at Cannes Lions on Wednesday, she took the stage at the Debussy Theater at the Palais des Festivals to a raucous reception to discuss topics like cultural fluency and questions like: What does it take for a story, a film, or a brand to move across cultures without losing what makes it important? Her appearance was moderated by People Inc exec Leah Wyar.
“Don’t take the audiences for granted” was one of the personal tips or lessons she shared on stage. “He listens!” Another view was that “confidence is about exercise” or going to the gym. “You can’t fake confidence” and you won’t always have it, which requires moments to remind yourself of your value, your skills and what you bring to the table, the star said, adding: “I’ve seen a lot of people mingling.”
Among other tips she shared was the importance of authenticity, which the star said involves not always being in complete control. As such, she suggested that we should not strive for perfection, but also accept some weaknesses and flaws.
When Chopra Jonas was asked about her next career goals, she said the goal was to focus on how to “bring the kind of diversity to my characters in my work in English, which I was able to do in India.” “In my career in Hindi, I’ve worked with the best directors and the best actors, and I’ve told amazing stories and done a variety of genres, whereas in America, in Hollywood, in my work in English, I haven’t really done that much,” she added.
Additionally, figuring out work-life balance for a working parent is another current focus for her, Chopra-Jonas said.
She is not afraid of change and disruption in the entertainment industry. “Evolution is hard,” Chopra Jonas said. “But I also like a challenge.”
She then pointed out some of the benefits of changes in the industry, such as the rise of foreign language content and translated content. “My mom loves Korean dramas,” the star said while laughing.
She mentioned the current Hollywood phenomenon, the Carrie Parker phenomenon manianoting that with technology, creativity has become easier for people. “If you wanted to get into film, you had to know what department you wanted to be in. It was really difficult to get into this industry,” Chopra Jonas said. Now, if you feel like you have an idea, film it and put it on YouTube, and it can become one maniathe movie that was just released. What a great time to be an artist, and to be in the entertainment business!
On Wednesday, the multi-hyphenate also shared how she decided to break down the walls. “I wanted more work, which had me playing lead roles, which had me doing roles that I don’t think a lot of studios would imagine for an Indian actor,” Chopra Jonas told the Cannes Lions audience. “So I started producing my own films. And I heard this from a lot of my colleagues that when you want to get ahead, there’s a glass ceiling set up for most women in entertainment. You just have to do it for yourself, and that was very inspiring to me.”
Talk of resetting expectations and opportunities has led to questions about the star’s upcoming films. “This last, Reset“It’s very exciting for me,” she explained, as she stars opposite another big name. “Orlando Bloom and I have known each other for many years. We have both worked with UNICEF for many years. We have wanted to work together for a long time.”
Reset It is a survival thriller film directed by Matt Smukler (Wildflower) and written by Jordan RollinQ.
Chopra Jonas plays a woman who wakes up in the middle of the wilderness with no memory of how she got there, and whose only chance at survival seems to be a charming stranger (Bloom) who may not be who he says he is.
The star said she loves working as an actor and producer, a role where she “feels involved in almost every department.” How do you choose films as a producer? “I try not to follow trends,” she explained, “but think about how people will feel through the film.”
In comparison, when it comes to acting, “there is freedom in knowing that a filmmaker like SS Rajamouli, one of India’s most prolific filmmakers, has complete control.” Chopra Jonas appears in the cast of his upcoming film Varanasiabout a devotee of Shiva who is sent on a mysterious mission to find an ancient cosmic artifact. “This is a really ambitious film, which will be released in April 2027,” the star said.
When asked about a good, great movie, Chopra Jonas had this to offer on Wednesday. “A good movie is something you invest two hours in to watch, or three hours if it’s an Indian movie,” she said. “An event is something you discuss, and it changes the culture.”
