Before entering Bollywood, Priyanka Chopra’s film career began with a Tamil movie. In 2002, after winning the Miss World title, she made her acting debut in Thamizhan, starring opposite C. Joseph Vijay.
The film marked her entry into acting, even though Hindi cinema later became the industry that established her as a leading star.
On several occasions, Priyanka Chopra has shared her experience working on a Tamil film. For a newcomer who was struggling to find work in the acting industry, working with Vijay offered an early lesson long before her career expanded to Hollywood.
What Was Priyanka Chopra’s Debut Film?
Priyanka Chopra’s first film was Thamizhan. It was released on April 12, 2002. The Tamil-language action drama was directed by Majith, with Vijay as the male lead and Priyanka playing his romantic interest.
Other supporting cast included Revathi, Nassar, Ashish Vidyarthi and Vivek.
Priyanka Chopra was 18 years old when she entered the film industry. She won Miss World 2000 and was exploring acting opportunities when she signed the project.
In her memoir Unfinished, Chopra recalled that she wanted to work in Bollywood, but she remained committed to Thamizhan. She described the experience as a gift and wrote about the challenge of working in a language she did not speak.
She shared that a Tamil coach helped her learn her dialogues phonetically, allowing her to memorise and deliver her lines.
Priyanka Chopra Shares Her Experience With Vijay
In 2026, while appearing on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Priyanka Chopra recalled working with Vijay. She remembered being struck by the crowds that gathered to watch Vijay on set.
“It was my first exposure to fame,” she said, explaining how seeing hundreds of people turn up for her co-star shaped her early understanding of being a celebrity. She described the experience as feeling like a “demigod” moment.
The experience also influenced how she approached filmmaking. Priyanka spoke about Vijay's humility on set and how he stayed around between shots, interacted with the crew and remained involved in the filming process.
She said this influenced her own preference for staying on set rather than retreating to her trailer between takes.
The Tamil Movie Gave Priyanka Chopra A Chance To Sing
Thamizhan was not just Priyanka Chopra's first acting project. She also sang “Ullathai Killathe”, a song from the film's soundtrack composed by D. Imman.
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Story Of Thamizhan
Thamizhan is a 2002 Tamil action drama directed by Majith, starring Vijay as Surya, a lawyer who believes in using the legal system to fight injustice. The story follows his efforts to challenge corruption and help ordinary people understand their legal rights.
Priyanka Chopra plays Priya, Surya’s love interest, marking her first film appearance. The movie combines a social message about the law with the commercial elements of a mainstream Tamil entertainer.
(Image Credit: IMDb)
Priyanka Chopra’s Career After Thamizhan
After Thamizhan, Priyanka Chopra made her Hindi film debut in Anil Sharma’s The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003), starring alongside Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta.
However, her breakthrough came later that year with Andaaz, which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, shared with Dutta. She followed it with Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), but her performance as an ambitious woman in Aitraaz (2004) established her acting range.
She later won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Fashion (2008), before starring in films such as Barfi!, Mary Kom and Bajirao Mastani. In 2015, she made her American television debut as Alex Parrish in Quantico, paving the way for her Hollywood career.
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Did you know that her first on-screen pairing was with Vijay rather than a Hindi film star?
FAQs
Q1. What was Priyanka Chopra’s first movie?
A1. Her first film was the Tamil movie Thamizhan, released in 2002.
Q2. What was Priyanka Chopra’s first Hindi film?
A2. Her Hindi film debut was The Hero: Love Story of a Spy in 2003, followed by Andaaz the same year.