Priyanka Chopra Jonas: “I’m Very Excited About the Future. I’m Terrified of It Too”

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Clothing by Schiaparelli; ring by Bulgari High Jewelry. PHOTOGRAPHS BY EMMA SUMMERTON; STYLED BY LEITH CLARK

“It’s taken a lot of pavement pounding to be able to get people’s attention, and to be able to get an acceptance of the fact that someone like me can be the lead of a Hollywood feature,” she says. “There’s very few of us from South Asia who get to do that. I hope that the part that I play in it will sort of push the envelope a little bit.”

Priyanka, who’s 39, has already lived many lives. She was born in India—her parents were military physicians—then moved to the U.S. as a teenager to live with her aunt. Routinely bullied for being Indian, Priyanka returned to India after three years to finish her high school education at the Army Public School in Bareilly. In 1999, her mother and brother entered her in her first pageant, and she went on to win Miss India World and ultimately Miss World 2000. Within 10 years of launching her Bollywood career, she became one of the most successful actors working in India’s massive movie industry, the world’s largest producer of films, with billions of tickets sold a year. Priyanka often shot multiple films simultaneously. She became insanely famous. Can’t-walk-down-the-street famous. It was then that her manager, Anjula Acharia, urged her to move back to the U.S. to pursue a music career with the legendary record executive Jimmy Iovine.

Other Hindi film stars had tried to break into the U.S. market, but none achieved anything like the same stardom. “I wasn’t looking to do work in America,” Priyanka tells me. “I was at this amazing point in my career. I was doing critically acclaimed work and winning awards. So she called me, and I kind of laughed at the idea.” In the end, she took the leap and signed a record deal with Universal Music Group. Priyanka became the first Bollywood star ever signed at CAA and released a few singles, collaborating with Pitbull and will.i.am. “It was just magical,” she says. “So those three, four years just went by. I was being serenaded by this rock-and-roll lifestyle.”

Dress by Dior; shoes by Manolo Blahnik; jewelry by Bulgari High Jewelry. PHOTOGRAPHS BY EMMA SUMMERTON; STYLED BY LEITH CLARK

It was booking the lead role of FBI trainee Alex Parrish in the ABC series Quantico in 2015 that allowed Priyanka to move from a fledgling music career back into acting. “Quantico for me was a really big win,” she says. “Not just because of being the first time an Indian or South Asian actor was lead of a network show, but, more than that, because I was not put in the box, like the show wasn’t My Big Fat Indian Wedding.”

The Parrish character was written without a specific ethnicity in mind, which is something Priyanka had longed for: She didn’t want to be pigeonholed for being Indian or cast as a trope. Once she’d won the role, she added some touches from her own background, including speaking Hindi on the show. “After that, I just started looking for parts like that, where my ethnicity is something that is an asset [but] I’m not defined by it.” Priyanka was the first South Asian actor to win a People’s Choice Award for the role—she won two—and when Quantico wrapped after three seasons in 2018, she had already begun appearing in a smattering of films, playing a vampy villain in Baywatch, a yoga instructor in the comedy Isn’t It Romantic, and a fiercely determined mother in the family drama The Sky Is Pink. The last of these was produced by Purple Pebble Pictures, which Priyanka cofounded with her mother, Madhu Chopra. The company has a TV deal with Amazon, and Priyanka says she’s focused on telling predominantly South Asian stories and ones centered on women: “I’m looking at doing very hyper-specific storytelling.” As for the responsibility that comes with representing South Asians in her work, she adds, “I may make my mistakes, because this is not a mantle I was looking for. But I think collectively, each one of us can push Hollywood, and push the powers that be, and be demanding and not just polite about it. I’ve been polite for a very long time. Now it’s time to say, ‘I’m sorry, that doesn’t work,’ and to fight for your characters. As a producer, I’m so grateful that I get the opportunity to do that, to be able to make stories and look for stories that normalize different cultures of the world.”

“I’m more of a reserved person at first,” says Nick Jonas, “but she can make you feel like you are in the family and a part of the inner circle right away.”

Last year, Priyanka executive produced and starred in The White Tiger, an adaptation of an Aravind Adiga novel exploring India’s caste systems through the experience of one wealthy family’s driver. “When she sets her mind to accomplish something, which could be producing a film, it could be her business ventures—she’s relentless,” says the film’s writer-director, Ramin Bahrani, whose screenplay was nominated for an Oscar. “And when it comes to the performance, she’s the same. Lots of questions. And all good questions. Great instincts.”

Keanu Reeves reveals the two celebs he’s asked for autographs, plus more celeb news

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Keanu Reeves reveals the two celebs he’s asked for autographs Even the internet’s boyfriend, Keanu Reeves, gets star struck sometimes. During an appearance on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on Jan. 12, “The Matrix” star admitted he has actually asked for autographs from celebs twice in his life. One was from singer Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground fame. “It was for a friend, and [Lou] was cool about it,” Keanu recalled. “It was like a little piece of paper and blue ink — yeah, it was good. It just said ‘Lou Reed.’ But it was good,” Keanu recalled. (“It would have been really disappointing if it didn’t say ‘Lou Reed,’” Stephen joked.) The other famous person Keanu asked for an autograph from was the late comic, George Carlin. “I’m jealous, I’m such a fan” Stephen said. “He wrote… I think it was ‘Dear Keanu, F*** you,’” Keanu said. “I always thought he just wrote that for me,” he added. “And then I met someone else who said that he wrote the same thing to them! Anyway, beautiful.” Keanu and Alex Winter ultimately worked with George in 1989’s “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Keep reading to find out which “SNL” star could end up hosting the 2022 Oscars … RELATED: Hollywood’s longest lasting marriages

Pete Davidson rumored to be a 2022 Oscars host contender As the Oscars plans its return to a host-helmed ceremony for the first time since 2018, the event’s producers are interested in giving the show a makeover of sorts, according to Page Six. That “reset” could include Pete Davidson coming on board to host. “His people are talking to producers,” a source tells the tab. “He gets a demographic that is hard to get. He is in a good space, his career is doing well and he is on the rise,” the insider explains, adding that Pete’s also “a sex symbol” to “a certain generation.” While his demo has ratings to back it up — Pete and Miley Cyrus’ NBC New Year’s Eve special snagged 6.3 million viewers, according to the Post — his newfound “sex symbol” status has a, um, different set of numbers attached to it. When the 28-year-old’s photo-friendly romance with Kim Kardashian, 41, came to light last fall, interest in the unlikely couple sparked lots of curiosity, in part because it was hardly the “Saturday Night Live” star’s first out-of-the-blue, high-profile romance with a gorgeous celeb. (Pete’s recent exes include Kate Beckinsale, 48, Kaia Gerber, 20, Margaret Qualley, 27, and singer Ariana Grande, 28.) The 2022 Oscars host, meanwhile, seems to be very much up in the air as of Jan. 13. Tom Holland previously told The Hollywood Reporter he’d love to helm the awards show and THR confirmed the Academy had contacted the “Spider-Man” star about the idea. According to Deadline, there’s also been talk of booking more than host, and some insiders have expressed interest in Dwayne Johnson or Chris Rock. The Oscars air on ABC March 27. It’s harder to guess when and where Pete and Kim will surface next — their recent dates have reportedly included a trip to a Los Angeles Rite Aid for ice cream and a daytime visit to an outlet mall for caramel apples, so maybe keep an eye on your local candy store. Or, ya know … the Oscars. RELATED: See what the 2022 SAG Awards nominees are saying about their nods

Priyanka Chopra responds to speculation about her marriage to Nick Priyanka Chopra Jonas won’t let public speculation about her private life — including her marriage to Nick Jonas — take up too much time or energy. That’s probably why she didn’t initially address rumors of marital trouble that surfaced in November after she dropped “Chopra Jonas” from her Instagram handle. The change ignited a rumor mill of questions about the state of her relationship on social media, as did the flirty comment she left on a video Nick shared less than a day later. Asked about the rumors and comments about her marriage, Priyanka, 39, recently explained to Vanity Fair while it makes her feel “vulnerable,” she doesn’t give it much weight. “It’s a very vulnerable feeling, actually, that if I post a picture, everything that’s behind me in that picture is going to be zoomed in on, and people are going to speculate,” Priyanka says in the magazine’s February 2022 cover story. “It’s just a professional hazard. … Because of the noise of social media, because of the prevalence that it has in our lives, I think it seems a lot larger than it is. I think that we give it a lot more credence in real life, and I don’t think it needs that.” Nick, 29, tells the outlet Priyanka handles “the pressures of fame” gracefully. “We both know that public life is something that comes with what we do,” he explains. “But we’ve set real boundaries around our personal lives, our privacy, and worked really hard to create that little safe haven for ourselves with our friends and family.” It sounds like that haven could grow a little larger at some point soon, too. Asked if she and Nick want kids, Priyanka says, “They’re a big part of our desire for the future. By God’s grace, when it happens, it happens.” In the meantime, she jokes, she and Nick aren’t “not too busy to practice” the art of conceiving a little one.

Kanye West investigated for alleged battery Kanye West is reportedly under investigation for suspected battery in Los Angeles for his alleged involvement in an altercation with a man who says the rapper punched him. According to Fox L.A., the alleged victim contacted the police around 3 a.m. on Jan. 13, claiming Ye punched the man hard enough to knock him on the ground after he asked for an autograph. The local news outlet reported the dustup happened outside a members-only club in the city’s downtown Arts District, and that Ye had was already gone when police arrived. (ET notes the intersection cited in the battery report is near Soho Warehouse.) Kanye and his rumored new love interest, “Uncut Gems” actress Julia Fox, had been out together earlier that night at Delilah’s with friends including Madonna and boxer Floyd Mayweather. TMZ has since published video it says shows the rapper yelling, “Did y’all say that or not? Did y’all say that or not? Cuz that’s what happened right f******now.” As of mid-afternoon Jan. 13, no arrests had been made, according to ET.

Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian react to Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s engagement Machine Gun Kelly revealed he popped the question to Megan Fox on Jan. 11 and she said “yes” on Instagram on Jan. 12, and the engagement news earned major love from the couple’s famous pals. Kim Kardashian West, who’s dating MGK’s longtime bestie, Pete Davidson, chimed in to comment, “So happy for u guys!!!!,” adding a string of heart and wedding emojis. Kim’s sister, Kourtney Kardashian, who recently got engaged to another close pal of MGK’s, Travis Barker, posted heart emojis in the comments as well, while her fiance wrote, “F*** YESSSSS 🖤.” Avril Lavigne, Paris Hilton and actress Dove Cameron all sent their congrats, too, but comic Whitney Cummings arguably stole the comments show: “Cut to me and Pete D fighting in a cage over who officiates this wedding,” she cracked. Machine Gun, whose real name is Colson Baker, explained in his post that he designed Megan’s diamond and emerald ring specifically to represent their relationship. “‘Yes, in this life and every life’ beneath the same branches we fell in love under, i brought her back to ask her to marry me,” he wrote in the caption. “I know tradition is one ring, but i designed it with Stephen Webster to be two: the emerald (her birth stone) and the diamond (my birth stone) set on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love. 1-11-2022.”

Meghan McCain calls 2019 pregnancy loss one of her ‘darkest times’ When Meghan McCain announced she was leaving “The View” last year, she said having her first child had factored into her decision. But Meghan’s path to motherhood wasn’t easy, as she explained recently on People’s “Me Becoming Mom” podcast. She and her husband Ben Domenesch were expecting their first child in 2019 until Meghan suffered a miscarriage. It didn’t help that she was so much in the public eye at the time — nor did the tension between Meghan and her “View” co-hosts. “I had blood work done at my doctor. And I actually found out the day after,” Meghan recalled. “I had a disastrous appearance on Seth Meyers and I didn’t understand it. I didn’t even really understand what HCG levels are or were. And she told me that it should be doubling and it’s not and they aren’t as high as they need to be at this point in time and I just was so confused.” The “Bad republican” author, 37, admitted she thought a miscarriage involved “bleeding profusely in the middle of a room or something,” which is not what happened when she lost her baby. “And then having to go through a thing so publicly, there was a disaster in my career and then this disaster in my body,” she continued. “It was one of the darkest times in my life. It’s like every sense in my body was overwhelmed and then I was heartbroken.” She did, however, have a strong support system of friends who she said “hid” the baby-related books she had in her apartment while she was at the doctor so she wouldn’t have to face them when she returned. Meghan and Ben went on to welcome their daughter, Liberty, on Sept. 28, 2020. But Meghan said the experience is “still emotional” for her. “The only thing that gives me peace and solace … I feel like that child is with my dad in the afterlife or in heaven. And for whatever reason, it wasn’t meant to be here at that time,” she added. “But it’s very hard.”

Keith Richards, Joan Jett and more stars pay tribute to Ronnie Wilson The music world is mourning the loss of singer and ’60s girl group icon Ronnie Spector, who died on Jan. 12 after she was diagnosed with cancer, according to a statement from her family. As the leader of The Ronettes, Ronnie became a household name following the success of massive hits like “Be My Baby,” “Walking in the Rain” and “Baby I Love You,” but continued to influence pop and rock for decades, as many of her friends and fans noted in tributes on social media. “She was the sweetest person you could ever know. And her mark on rock and roll is indelible,” Joan Jett shared after learning of Ronnie’s death. Keith Richards, who was reportedly close with Ronnie for many years, wrote on Twitter, “This is so sad. Ronnie was a very dear friend and she leaves a huge gap. How I’m going to miss that infectious laugh and that great voice! My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.” Brian Wilson honored the late star as well, posting, “I just heard the news about Ronnie Spector and I don’t know what to say. I loved her voice so much and she was a very special person and a dear friend. This just breaks my heart. Ronnie’s music and spirit will live forever.” Ronnie was 78.

Priyanka Chopra Just Debuted Streaky Blonde Highlights

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Priyanka Chopra is making some changes this year — well, when it comes to her hair, anyway. The actor and former Miss World just debuted some fresh blonde highlights to lighten up her usual dark brown tresses.

On Friday, Celebrity Redken Colorist Tracey Cunningham shared a video of Chopra shaking her head to show off her new strands, which were balayaged with Redkin Flash Lift Lightening Powder and Shades EQ Hair Gloss to create a warm caramel effect. Olaplex was used on the ends and its Stand Alone Treatment was applied before towel drying, according to Cunningham’s Instagram post.

“Loving @priyankachopra new lighter hair 😀 ,” Cunningham captioned the video, which was initially posted to Chopra’s Story. The actress captioned her post, “New year new hair!”

Blonde highlights on brown hair has been a celebrity favorite for years. Just look at Beyoncé, Jennifer Aniston, Khloé Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez. In fact, the trend was seen everywhere this past fall (latte blonde, anyone?) and continues to dominate, with Chopra being the first celeb to rock the color in 2022.

The actor recently opened up about being in the public eye and the speculation surrounding her marriage to Nick Jonas.

“It’s a very vulnerable feeling, actually, that if I post a picture, everything that’s behind me in that picture is going to be zoomed in on, and people are going to speculate,” she told Vanity Fair for the magazine’s February 2022 issue. “It’s just a professional hazard … Because of the noise of social media, because of the prevalence that it has in our lives, I think it seems a lot larger than it is. I think that we give it a lot more credence in real life, and I don’t think it needs that.”

Priyanka Chopra: I’ll push for change in Hollywood

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Priyanka Chopra is determined to push “the powers that be” in Hollywood.

The 39-year-old actress hopes to tell predominantly south Asian stories on the big screen, and she’s eager to break down barriers in the American film industry.

Priyanka - who enjoyed huge success in India before becoming a Hollywood star - said: “I may make my mistakes, because this is not a mantle I was looking for. But I think collectively, each one of us can push Hollywood, and push the powers that be, and be demanding and not just polite about it.

“I’ve been polite for a very long time. Now it’s time to say, ‘I’m sorry, that doesn’t work,’ and to fight for your characters.

“As a producer, I’m so grateful that I get the opportunity to do that, to be able to make stories and look for stories that normalize different cultures of the world.”

Priyanka landed the role of Alex Parrish in the ABC series ‘Quantico’ in 2015, and that marked a major turning point in her career.

The actress explained that it opened doors for her in the US.

She told the February issue of Vanity Fair magazine: “‘Quantico’ for me was a really big win. Not just because of being the first time an Indian or south Asian actor was lead of a network show, but, more than that, because I was not put in the box, like the show wasn’t ‘My Big Fat Indian Wedding’.”

Priyanka hopes her Indian background is now seen as an “asset”, rather than something that defines her career.

The actress - who also starred in ‘Baywatch’ and ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ - said: “After that, I just started looking for parts like that, where my ethnicity is something that is an asset [but] I’m not defined by it.”

Read the full story ‘Everything’s Coming Up Priyanka’ by Rebecca Ford in Vanity Fair’s February issue, and on VanityFair.com.

Must Read: Priyanka Chopra Covers ‘Vanity Fair,’ Style Heroine Is Now Sergio Rossi’s Artistic Director

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These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Thursday.

Priyanka Chopra covers Vanity Fair

Priyanka Chopra Jonas fronts Vanity Fair’s February 2022 issue, photographed by Emma Summerton. In the accompanying profile by Rebecca Ford, the actor discusses her career trajectory (and leading two Hollywood projects, “Text for You” and “Citadel,” in 2022), the challenges she’s faced along the way and more. {Vanity Fair}

Style Heroine is now the artistic director of Sergio Rossi

Evangelie Smyrniotaki, a.k.a. Style Heroine, has been named artistic director of the Italian footwear brand Sergio Rossi, WWD reports. The content creator won’t be designing — save for a Evangelie Smyrniotaki x Sergio Rossi capsule collection set to debut during Milan Fashion Week — but will rather be spearheading Sergio Rossi’s ad campaigns, styling and other content. {WWD}

New report links fashion brands to company closely tied to Xinjiang

An investigation by Alison Killing and Megha Rajagopalan published to Buzzfeed News suggests that, even though fashion brands have promised to not use cotton sourced from Xinjiang — and despite regulation banning the import of cotton to the U.S. from there — they maintain ties with a textile company closely tied to the region. {Buzzfeed News}

Why luxury wants in on mystery boxes

In Business of Fashion, Daniel-Yaw Miller reports on LVMH’s recent investment in the U.K.-based mystery box start-up Heat and what it tell us about the future of the market — which has seen a renewed surge over the past few years — as well as luxury’s role in it. {Business of Fashion}

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