A Family Remembers
On August 23, two generations of the Chopra family publicly honored Dr. Ashok Chopra on what would have been his birthday. His wife, Dr. Madhu Chopra, posted a nostalgic video compilation on Instagram, a montage of fond memories with her late husband and their children, Priyanka and Siddharth. Alongside the video, she wrote a message that captured her continuing love: "Heavenly birthday to my husband, my love, and the piece of my heart that I carry with me every day. I wish I could celebrate you here, but I hope you know how deeply you are loved, missed, and remembered (sic)."
Their daughter, actor Priyanka Chopra, also chose social media to mark the day. As reported by Times Now, she shared a throwback picture of her father smiling and posted an emotional birthday wish, using the word 'heavenly' — the same word her mother used. The two tributes, reported separately by different outlets, paint a picture of a family that continues to hold Dr. Chopra close.
A Legacy of Service and Memory
Dr. Ashok Chopra's life was one of service. He served as a physician and surgeon in the Indian Army Medical Corps and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He passed away at the age of 62 on June 10, 2013, in Mumbai, after a long battle with cancer.
His memory remains a presence in Priyanka's life. Both Lokmat Times and Times Now noted that Priyanka carries a tattoo reading 'Daddy's lil girl' — a phrase written in her father's own handwriting. In 2018, she had those same words embroidered onto her wedding veil, according to Times Now. The actress has often described her father as her 'greatest cheerleader,' a phrase that appeared in the Lokmat Times report.
The family connection extends to the youngest generation. Priyanka recently shared a photo of her 4-year-old daughter, Malti Marie, standing before Dr. Ashok Chopra's photograph with folded hands. Malti never met her grandfather, as he passed away before she was born, but the gesture suggests an effort to bridge that gap.
An Upcoming Milestone: 'Varanasi'
While the family remembered Dr. Ashok Chopra, the actor Priyanka Chopra continues to look ahead to new professional milestones. She is set to make her Telugu cinema debut with 'Varanasi,' the highly anticipated S.S. Rajamouli film, where she will star as Mandakini alongside Mahesh Babu. According to the character description from Lokmat Times, Mandakini is a fierce historian who accompanies Rudhra — Mahesh Babu's protagonist — on a mission to save the holy city of Varanasi from an asteroid named Shambhavi. The film is scheduled to release on April 7, 2027, according to Times Now.
Priyanka's recent work includes 'The Bluff,' and her upcoming projects include 'Citadel Season 2' and 'Bluefly' with Russell Crowe, as reported by Times Now.
Personal of the Family
Both tributes are touching, and not just for their sadness. They are also about love that endures. The details — the video of memories, the shared word 'heavenly,' the tattoo, the veil, and the small daughter's folded hands — paint a picture of a family that has absorbed its loss and woven it into everyday tokens and traditions.