In a recent interview, Priyanka Chopra’s mother, Dr. Madhu, recalled the family‘s “most vulnerable” time when her husband, Dr. Ashok Chopra, was diagnosed with cancer and they struggled to get him to Boston for treatment.
“He was very ill. My brother suggested if there was even a 5% chance of survival, we should take him to Boston. But getting him on a plane was another challenge, as no airline wanted to take such a seriously ill patient, even with our disclaimers,” she remembered.
Dr. Madhu shared that during this time, Priyanka was filming Krrish with Hrithik Roshan and happened to confide in him about her concerns. Hrithik noticed her distress and asked her what was wrong. Both he and his father, Rakesh Roshan, then stepped in to help. “Hrithik asked her why she was crying, and then both father and son worked to ensure the airlines agreed to take us,” Dr. Madhu explained.
“They helped us by using their connections and putting in a good word,” she added.
Priyanka’s father, Dr. Ashok Chopra, passed away in 2013 after an eight-year battle with cancer. Priyanka, who shared a close bond with her father, has a tattoo on her wrist that reads “Daddy’s lil girl,” written in his handwriting.