Breathtaking beauty: Priyanka Chopra, 38, exudes captivating glamour for the cover of the March issue of Elle UK, posing in an array of fitness-themed ensembles

In her shoot for the publication, the star proudly displays her enviably toned frame in a range of ab-bearing crop tops, teamed with shorts and loose-fitting bottoms.

Away from her sporty shoot, the beauty queen spoke about her whirlwind romance with American heartthrob Nick, which began in May 2018.

On July 19 of that year – a day after Priyanka had celebrated her birthday – Nick proposed as they enjoyed a romantic break on the Greek island of Crete.

Speaking of the proposal, the star said: ‘I didn’t expect the proposal at that point… It was two months! I thought it would happen, but it was still a complete shock. [But] I relinquished control and I just went with it.’

Whirlwind: In the accompanying interview, the screen star admitted to being ‘shocked’ when her 28-year-old husband Nick Jonas proposed to her after just two months of dating

She the opened up about how their romance developed, explaining: ‘We were just sporadically meeting for about two years. We were texting and stuff, and there may have been a part of me that wanted something serious.

‘But I was taking a hiatus from guys at that point. I didn’t want anyone romantically. But there’s always been something about Nick, which is why we always ended up staying in touch, no matter where we were.

‘One thing to know about my husband is that when he makes up his mind, he’ll get what he wants! When he knows, he knows. There’s such a sublime confidence to it that you can’t help but be like, “OK.”‘

The pair would go on to tie the knot in a lavish ceremony at Jodphur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace in December 2018, bringing to an end a life-changing year.

Now, says Priyanka, they work through the challenge of ensuring they see each other every three weeks, as their busy careers keep them in different parts of the world.

Proposal: On July 19 , 2018 – a day after Priyanka had celebrated her birthday – Nick proposed as they enjoyed a romantic break on the Greek island of Crete

Stunning: In her shoot for the publication, the star proudly displays her enviably toned frame in a range of ab-bearing crop tops, teamed with shorts and loose-fitting bottoms

She told Elle: ‘We see each other every three weeks. Wherever we are in the world, we fly to each other at least once a month for a couple of days. It was our rule when we first got married. Otherwise we’d never see each other.’

Marriage hasn’t been the only recent major change for Priyanka, who has had to start her career from scratch after leaving superstardom in India for a new life in the US.

‘The process of auditioning was taboo in India at that point, [especially] when you become a big actor,’ she said. ‘Now, it’s changed a lot but 10 years ago, auditioning wasn’t something you did.

‘But [in Hollywood] it was the culture, so I had to learn that. I learned that I can’t rest on my laurels and that I had to walk into a room and introduce myself to people and not feel entitled.

‘Just because a huge part of the world may know me, that [doesn’t mean] everyone should. It’s always hard when starting a new career. And I completely treated [moving to America] as a new career.

Love and marriage: The pair would go on to tie the knot in a lavish ceremony at Jodphur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace in December 2018, bringing to an end a life-changing year

‘If you think about it, I’ve only been an actor in the US for five years. I’ve just about started doing the work that I really want. It takes time in every career.’

Going for gold in Hollywood has also meant potentially dismantling barriers as one of few South Asian actresses in prominent leading roles outside of the continent.

‘I think that there is such a large space for Indian talent,’ she asserted. ‘But it’s going to require a mobilisation of our community to support each other instead of pulling one another down.

‘Me and Mindy [Mindy Kaling], that’s how this collaboration happened. [She will be starring alongside Kaling in the first-ever female-led comedy with a completely South Asian cast]

Issue: Read Priyanka’s interview in the March issue of Elle UK, on sale from February 4th

‘I was like, “I want to create opportunities as a producer for South Asian people in Hollywood, just like I never had.” I had to fight for it.

‘I had to say, “I don’t want to do the extra Indian accent. If my character was born and brought up in the UK or in the US, why would she speak like that? Why would you wear a bindi?”

‘It’s a silly, stereotypical thing. I defied a lot of that, and now I’m reaching a point in Hollywood where my culture is my asset instead of my definition.’

However, while she continues to make strides in Hollywood, Priyanka, who recently released her memoir Unfinished, is more retiring when it comes to social media.

She said: ‘My relationship with social media has changed in the past four to five years. I’m definitely a lot more wary now. I don’t interact as much.

‘[Before], if I didn’t sleep or if I was bored in a trailer, I would start a Q&A with fans, or go live on Instagram. I’m a lot more careful [now]. It broke my heart a little bit. The succession of it all, how easy it is to take something trivial and make it so large…’

Read Priyanka Chopra’s full interview in the March issue of Elle UK, on sale from February 4th.

Trailblazer: Going for gold in Hollywood has also meant potentially dismantling barriers as one of few South Asian actresses in prominent leading roles outside of the continent