Indian woman astronaut

MUMBAI — The buzz is that Priyanka Chopra has been approached for a biopic on Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman to go into space. Viacom 18, perhaps the most daring and cosmopolitan (in terms of the variety of films they produce) film-backing corporate entities, is reportedly producing the film.

Busy with “Quantico” and earlier commitments in Hindi cinema, Chopra has not yet green-lit the assignment. Just like “Mary Kom” earlier, this role suits Chopra as she too is from a small town like Chawla, which according to the producers, makes her the right choice for this role. Chopra has had a discussion with the makers but will make a decision when she returns from abroad in December.

Chawla, the first Indian American astronaut, died in February 2003 on her second space expedition along with seven others when her space shuttle exploded. She spent 31 days, 14 hours and 54 minutes in space.

For a woman whose first film was delayed and released only in 2013 with major changes and whose first release was in a parallel role in the break-even “The Hero - Love Story of a Spy” (coincidentally less than two months after Chawla’s death), Chopra has indeed made good strides as a star, as well as a performer, woman and achiever.

Globally renowned both as Miss World and the protagonist of the mainstream American television serial “Quantico, ” the actor has survived in the top league from 2004 till date, with huge victories like “Aitraaz, ” “Kaminey, ” “Mary Kom” and “Dil Dhadakne Do, ” as well as blockbusters like “Krrish, ” “Don 2, ” “Agneepath” and “Barfi!”