After winning the Miss World title, Chopra became an actress. She first acted in a Tamil film Thamizhan (2002), in which she also sung a song, before moving on to Bollywood. In 2003, her first Bollywood film, The Hero: Love Story of a Spy released and won her good reviews.[4] Despite being given a below average status, the film went on to become one of the highest grossing films of that year.[5] Her next film, Andaaz opposite Akshay Kumar was a success,[6] earning her a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and a nomination for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

Her next few films failed to do well at the box office.[7] In 2004, her film, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi released and became the third highest grossing film of that year.[8] Her first negative role in her next release, Aitraaz, a Hindi remake of the Demi Moore-starrer Disclosure won her critical acclaim[9] and earned a Filmfare Best Villain Award. Her role also got her a second nomination for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. In the same year, she participated in a world tour aptly titled Temptations 2004 with Bollywood's leading stars, Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji and Arjun Rampal.

In 2005, she had many releases, though most did not do well at the box office.[10] In 2006, Chopra starred in two of the most successful films of the year - Krrish and Don - The Chase Begins Again.[11]

Nikhil Advani's multi-starrer, Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love was her first release in 2007. The move failed to do well at the box office.[12] Her most recent release, Big Brother also failed to do well.