"We left our Son in America" – Madhu Chopra Reveals how they saved for Priyanka Chopra’s wedding from her Birth & Why Siddharth had to 'Man Up' alone

Priyanka Chopra ’s incredible journey began when she was just 17. She first won the Miss India title, and not long after, she was crowned Miss World. The world often focuses on the glamorous side of her success — the fame, the achievements, the spotlight. But what usually goes unnoticed are the people who quietly make that journey possible. Behind Priyanka’s rise stood her mother, Madhu Chopra — the one who made tough choices, who sacrificed her own comfort to be by her daughter’s side. These are the parts of the story we don’t talk about enough.

And then, there’s another angle that’s almost always overlooked — the sibling who isn’t famous. In families where one child steps into the limelight, the other often grows up in the shadows, dealing with challenges no one really sees. They make their own sacrifices, but their stories rarely make headlines. In a candid conversation on The Debina Bonnerjee Show, Madhu opened up about this challenging phase. She revealed how Siddharth ended up feeling a bit sidelined during those years and how he eventually had to “man up” and figure out life on his own. Madhu also shared how she and her husband had started saving for their children’s futures right from the time they were born.

Madhu also reflected on the challenges she faced while managing the career of both the kids. When asked about how Siddharth handled things when Priyanka’s career skyrocketed. She recalled that for a short while, they left him in the US with their extended family as they were yet to establish themselves in Mumbai. “We left our son in America for a while because we were very shaky over here so he stayed with my family in the US. When we got a little more stable, that’s when he got him back. For him also, it was very hard,” she said. Before this, Priyanka too had lived in the US with her aunt. During this time, Priyanka faced racism and bullying in school.

Priyanka Chopra’s mother also admitted that, in some ways, Siddharth was unintentionally overlooked during that time. However, she feels that the experience made him stronger. “He had to grow up quickly. He found his own way, secured his own college admission, and moved to Switzerland. From then on, he became completely independent and never relied on us for anything.”