Dr Priyanka Chopra – that has a rather cool ring to it! This super-achiever now has a doctorate degree presented to her by the Bareilly International University, and it is one that is making her mom happier than her. “Mom aaj bahut khush hongi, and I think my dad only made it happen! Because it was their life’s dream for me to become a doctor. And then I didn’t,” said the ‘Quantico’ star, who happens to be the progeny of doctors – both were physicians in the Indian army.

It wasn’t a career choice PC was drawn to… “I never wanted to be a doctor, anyway! I had blood phobia and would faint [at the sight of blood]. I like numbers and physics and wanted to be an engineer more than anything. I’ve been offered honorary doctorates before, a couple of times. But, this was [from] the Bareilly International University. [Bareilly] is my hometown, it’s [where] my roots [are]. That’s what’s more special... There was no way I couldn’t have been a part of it. My mom and brother are coming [for the ceremony in Bareilly], and it’s gonna be a whole family affair,” she had revealed.

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Another honour that came her way this year was breaking into the top 10 on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list, which sees her rubbing shoulders with Salman and Shah Rukh Khan. “Being the only woman [there], that’s bittersweet for me. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve had the achievements I’ve had, which puts me in that position, and I [have] that power, on par with a lot of my male colleagues. I work really hard. I don’t take chhuttis or vacations or [off on] New Years. Since I’ve come to India, I’ve only been working. And I’m rewarded for it. I also live my life in two countries. It’s really difficult. But, at the same time, it makes me feel like... look at the disparity! You know the disparity that we keep talking about, it’s still there.”

She is receiving the fruits of her hard work and is not in the mood to let anyone make her feel guilty about it. Addressing the brouhaha about her charging a huge amount for a performance at an award function, she retorted, “Oh my God! If I’m made to feel guilty about it, then what will happen to those boys [male actors]? The boys who, for seconds, take crores? I don’t pay attention to such... what’s that word... Good riddance to bad rubbish. My work matters, my achievements matter, and I don’t let anyone pull me down.”

You absolutely go, girl!