At Harvard, A Moment of Pride: Shashi Tharoor Salutes Priyanka Chopra’s Global Ascent
BOSTON— It was more than a backstage reunion. It was a moment that symbolized how far Indian voices have traveled on the global stage.
When global icon Priyanka Chopra and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor crossed paths at the annual Harvard India Conference, the exchange quickly turned into a celebration of Indian excellence.
Both attended as headline speakers at the prestigious gathering, which convenes leaders from politics, business, entertainment, sports, and academia. Among those in attendance was badminton champion P. V. Sindhu, adding further star power to the event.
But it was Tharoor’s heartfelt public tribute to Chopra that resonated widely.
Taking to Instagram, Tharoor reflected on reconnecting with the actress after more than a decade. Meeting backstage just before Chopra delivered the conference’s closing keynote, the veteran parliamentarian expressed admiration not just for her achievements, but for what they represent.
“She has made India proud by conquering a stage on which Indians rarely get to appear,” Tharoor wrote, applauding her poise, intellect, and global presence. He described her as “stunning,” “perfectly poised,” and “thoughtful and wise,” adding, “What’s not to be proud of?”
A Global Stage, A Global Voice
Chopra’s appearance as the closing keynote speaker underscored her evolution from Bollywood superstar to international cultural force. Over the past decade, she has steadily carved a place in Hollywood, global television, and international entrepreneurship — platforms where Indian representation has historically been limited.
For Tharoor — himself known for commanding global forums with articulate speeches — the moment appeared to carry symbolic weight: an Indian woman not just participating in, but headlining, a major global conference.
Chopra responded with equal warmth.
“It was so good to see you again @ShashiTharoor Sir,” she wrote, praising his legendary oratory and signature “clap backs.” Thanking him for staying for her panel, she added, “Hope you feel better soon and our paths cross again.”
The mutual admiration between two accomplished Indians — one from politics and diplomacy, the other from cinema and global entertainment — offered a snapshot of modern India’s expanding influence.
What’s Next for Priyanka Chopra
Even as she commands international forums, Chopra’s film slate remains packed.
She will next appear in the swashbuckling action thriller The Bluff, where she takes on the fierce role of pirate Ercell. Backed by the Russo Brothers under AGBO Studios in association with Amazon MGM Studios, the film is set for release on February 25.
Additionally, Chopra is set to star in director S. S. Rajamouli’s much-anticipated project Varanasi, where she will share screen space for the first time with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu.
The Harvard encounter may have lasted only minutes backstage, but it sparked a wider conversation about representation, visibility, and pride.
In many ways, the meeting embodied a new chapter for Indian achievers — no longer on the margins of global platforms, but at the center of them.
And as Tharoor’s tribute made clear, when one of their own commands such a stage, it feels like a shared victory. (Source: IANS)
