Global Icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas Steals the Spotlight in The Bluff — Critics Call Her the Film’s Defining Force

Priyanka Chopra Jonas emerges as the undeniable centre of gravity in The Bluff, with critics across the board agreeing on one thing: whenever she’s on screen, the film comes alive.

Playing Ercell – a devoted mother forced to confront her violent past as the feared pirate Bloody Mary – Priyanka delivers what many reviewers are calling the movie’s strongest performance. One critic summed it up perfectly, writing that she is “the one bright spark amid it all – well, her and the heavy-duty action that erupts on screen every time she is there.”

Another noted how she brings something rare to a genre dominated by brute force, saying Priyanka “brings sensitivity and softness, an uncharted territory in this domain,” while still excelling in the action. Her biggest win, according to reviews, is holding onto her character’s humanity: “Priyanka’s real win in The Bluff is retaining her character’s humanity, a rarity in this genre.”

Audiences are seeing both sides of her performance – the fierce pirate and the emotional anchor. One review highlighted how she “convincingly portrays Ercell – the devoted wife, caring mother, and protective sister-in-law,” adding that when Bloody Mary resurfaces, “the film truly comes alive.” From swinging on ropes to intense hand-to-hand combat, stabbing without hesitation and firing weapons, Priyanka “commands every scene.”

Another critic described her as having “all the qualities of a full-fledged action star,” praising her brutal, high-energy combat sequences and saying what truly stays with you is her “fearless screen presence and commanding, swashbuckling energy.”

Reviewers also applauded her physicality and emotional balance. One wrote that Priyanka “delivers a fine performance that shows vulnerability, while also exhibiting solid physicality,” while another added, “When she goes on rampage mode, you believe she’s capable of taking down an entire gang of pirates single-handedly.”

Even international critics echoed the sentiment, with one noting that Chopra “proves her fisticuffing prowess – she’s convincing with a rapier and a flintlock and a right hook,” while another called her “a force as Ercell,” praising how she is “vulnerable and deeply human when her world is being threatened yet powerful and guttural in response.”

The performance adds yet another chapter to her remarkable global journey – from becoming the first South Asian woman to lead an American network series to featuring solo on international posters and building a sustained mainstream Hollywood career. More than two decades in, Priyanka continues to evolve, proving once again that she doesn’t just step into roles – she reshapes them.

In The Bluff, she isn’t merely playing an action hero. She’s redefining it – blending strength with vulnerability, brutality with heart – and reminding audiences why she remains one of the most compelling forces in global cinema today