Unfinished

01Priyanka's early years: Born to doctor parents in India, she learned discipline and respect for diversity

In "Unfinished," Priyanka Chopra Jonas takes us on a journey through her early years, painting a vivid picture of her family life. Born into a military family, she was the first girl on her father's side, making her the apple of everyone's eye. That is, until her little brother, Siddharth, came along. Born prematurely, Siddharth had to spend some time in an incubator, and this event marked a significant shift in Priyanka's life. She was no longer the only child, and she had to share the love and attention she had been enjoying for almost seven years. At first, Priyanka was jealous. She wasn't used to sharing her parents' attention, and her brother's arrival disrupted her world. But as time went on, she grew to love her brother, adoring his perfect curls, his big brown eyes, and his baby talk. Yet, she still grappled with feelings of jealousy due to the attention her brother was getting. A surprising twist happened when Siddharth was 10 years old. He insisted that their mother sign Priyanka up for the Miss India Beauty Pageant in 1999. Priyanka was only 17 at the time, and their mother was initially hesitant. But Siddharth was persistent, and eventually, their mother agreed to sign Priyanka up for the pageant. Priyanka's father, Ashok Chopra, was a dedicated army doctor who served in the military for twenty-seven years, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. Despite his commitment to his medical career, his true passion was music. He was a singer with a captivating voice and a lively personality, always laughing and spreading joy. In contrast, Priyanka's mother was a quiet and introverted individual, providing a balance to her father's outgoing nature. The story of how Priyanka's parents met is quite a tale. They first crossed paths in 1981 in Bareilly. Priyanka shares that her father was instantly smitten when he saw her mother at a party. Determined to see her again and ask her out, he devised a plan to pretend to have a stomachache and visit the hospital where her mother worked. His plan worked, and they were married just 10 days after getting her parents' consent. An interesting cultural note from the book is that in India, a doctor specializing in surgery is awarded the MS degree — Master in Surgery — rather than the MD, which is common in many other countries. This is a testament to the unique educational and professional paths in different cultures.