As they say, “You want to tell God a joke? Tell her your plans.”
Unfinished: A Memoir (Priyanka Chopra Jonas)
Book Review by Priyanka Zielinski
“All these years later I’m happy to say that I’m fully trilingual: I speak Hindi, English, and American, all of them fluently.” — Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Lets just say it, Priyanka Chopra is only Indian woman to truly break into Hollywood. I mean break into all things American entertainment: from music to Quantico to mainstream movies to a new book published out of New York.
PC’s book brings you in on her journey from within Indian states all the way to the vast American landscape, as she transitions from the role of a daughter, sister to a wife. Her professional career and her honest discussions, almost makes you, as the reader, feel special, privileged to have this insider’s look into her life — full of struggle, learning, mistakes, successes and heartbreak. Her life is truly inspirational as Indian women make their mark on the global stage in 2021. And PC owns it, says things as they were and is also able step back at laugh at herself. You cannot help but fall in love with her (even more).
When you witness, almost relive, year by year, Priyanka’s upbringing, multiple relocations, you understand how she picked the best of each experience as she packed up her “tuck box” and charged ahead. Written in refreshingly relatable tone, her childhood resonates with all of us Indian girls growing up with the teenage insecurities. Her years in American high school, funny incidents of getting caught by her aunt (haven’t we all been there) and the wretched bullying, swing you around on a pendulum of emotions.
I loved reading the specific details of Priyanka’s journey to the global Miss World pageant, as she names Indian hotels, Bombay suburbs and all the people who helped her along with the way. She always brings in the perspective of her family members, their logistical struggles and reactions. I cheered as she wrote about India being her superpower, her distinguishing trait and her source of energy.
What I valued most in my reading of her memoir was how beautiful and vulnerably she shares the effect of her life’s sudden public direction on her younger brother. PC credits her family throughout, elevating her mother as the true force cheerleading her on every stage.
The loss of her father, and her detailed discussion on his fight with cancer, will make you hurt, leave you anxious and longing. You will hear about the man he was, the surgeon who once saved a soldier from death and with the same soldier paying his respects at the father’s funeral two decades later.
Your emotions will swing again as you see Priyanka in New York and LA. And then you wont be able to deny what a true diva she is, as she dates Nick Jonas, and brings you behind the scenes on her fairy tale wedding in Rajasthan. She will walk you through her new house, room by room, space by space, as you privileged to be on this personal house tour with her, will get a glimpse into her future plans.
You will love this book, and PC. You will be entertained, heartbroken, and energized by her story.
As for me, I have always admired Priyanka Chopra (PC) from a distance — a rather big distance. I have seen her from this distance at restaurants in Bombay, at award shows and although we share nothing more than our first name, I continue to muse over our cosmic connection.
After all,
We both ventured into opportunities out West
We both married American men, who come from large religious families
We both married on, wait for it, December 1
And….
We both have our first books releasing in 2021
So now you’re up, PC to read and review my book :)
