Photo: Instagram.com/priyankachopra
That Priyanka Chopra has a special connection with Italian luxury brand Bulgari is a well-known fact among fans of the global icon. And now, the duo is taking their relationship to the next level with a very special project: the second chapter of the Jannah jewelry collection, helmed by none other than HH Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “I’ve been a long time fan of the brand,” the star revealed to Vogue Arabia in a special interview. “I’ve known Jean-Christophe Babin (Group CEO, Bulgari) since I was 19-years-old. Bulgari and I have very similar brand values. It’s very bold and unabashed—and so am I!” she continued with a laugh.
In 2020, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bulgari’s creative director, Lucia Silvestri, celebrated the launch of the very first Jannah collection, a series of 35 high jewelry pieces bearing the signature five-petal Jannah flower, which is also a key element of the decor of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi. “I accepted to participate in this project as it represents a dialogue between cultures and a conversation between civilizations through the art of jewelry,” Her Highness shared with Vogue Arabia in April 2021. “The collection manifests the beauty of tradition and cultures blended together from different sides of the world.”
The collection debuted with a stunning fashion film featuring Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, so it comes as no surprise that for the newest offerings from the Jannah collection—a name that translates to “paradise”—the face chosen had to be equally special. Cue Chopra, a star who’s gained fans across the globe over the span of her career, and who, today, represents the perfect blend of opulence, tradition, and modernity. Bonus: she’s also a Global Ambassador for Bulgari, which has a history of sourcing gemstones from her home country, India. “I have always admired and been fascinated by Bulgari’s magnificent works of arts, so many of which celebrate some of the most precious resources of my homeland,” Chopra once said.
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Just in time for the first look at the second chapter of the Jannah collection, Priyanka Chopra flew to Dubai for a quick visit to celebrate the big moment. Draped in a sculpted tangerine ensemble by Mohamed Benchellal, the actor invited Vogue Arabia into her serene suite, tucked inside Jumeirah’s Bulgari Hotel & Resorts to talk about jewelry, what ‘Jannah’ means to her, and much more.
Vogue Arabia: Welcome to Dubai, Priyanka! You’re not just Bulgari’s Global Ambassador, you’re also the face of the brand’s latest Jannah collection. What is your idea of ‘jannah’, or paradise?
My version of paradise is being with my loved ones. I love being surrounded by my family, my friends, being at home. In Urdu and in Hindi, we say “jannat”. So for me, my jannat would be my home.
Which piece from the Jannah collection is your all-time favorite?
[Pointing to her statement neckpiece] This one that I’m wearing it right now. I just love the way this necklace can be worn long as well as short… The Jannah collection is an amalgamation of the east and the west. And I am that person. I was raised in India and America, I work in India and America, and the Jannah collection embodies exactly that. It brings Roman craftsmanship and an eastern aesthetic together in such a beautiful way.
What’s the most beautiful piece of jewelry you’ve ever been gifted with?
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If I don’t say my engagement ring my husband [Nick Jonas] will kill me. Kidding! I have to say it was my engagement ring, because it was unexpected and I’m very sentimental about the jewelry that I wear, it’s always associated with memories for me so I’d definitely say that.
You’ve often spoken about watching your mother and emulating her since you were a child. Is there any piece of jewelry you’d like to steal from her collection?
I already have! It was a beautiful gold necklace that my mom had, and it was one of the first pieces she bought and I loved it. so I just took it—with her permission, of course. She said, “Oh it’s for your brother’s wife” I was like, “Excuse me? It’s for your daughter!”
If Priyanka Chopra was a piece of fine jewelry, what would she be?
I think I would be a pair of hoop hearings with a cluster of diamonds just like the one on my Jannah neckpiece.
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