What makes our January cover star Mary Kom so badass, according to Priyanka Chopra Jonas

She has punched her way through patriarchy, fought her critics and has come out stronger than ever before. Olympic medallist and mother of three, Mary Kom, is not one to rest on her laurels, which makes her truly invincible

There is something about Mary…she is badass, inspirational and unstoppable. It’s the reason I immediately wanted to be a part of her story, when I got the opportunity to portray her on-screen. And getting to know her during the process of making the film just cemented that feeling.

Her accolades and achievements are one thing, but the woman herself is quite something else altogether. The remarkable thing about Mary is that she has found a beautiful rhythm to her life: she is a great mum, an amazing wife, a fabulous cook, keeps an immaculate home and is truly passionate about and involved with the boxing academy she started. She does all this and still manages to train for a couple of hours every day. It’s commendable how she has found such great balance in her life.

Mary constantly surprises you. She doesn’t let her chosen profession define who she is as a person. She can knock you out with a single punch, but when out of the ring, she is warm and inviting. She can make opponents run for cover, but I remember her children running and jumping into her arms all the time. She has been through so many hardships, yet you will rarely see her without a smile. She is a true champion, a genuine human being and an amazing lady…that’s ‘Magnificent Mary’.

Chopra Jonas is an award-winning actor.  

Polyester mesh top, INR 6,500, NoughtOne. Cotton nylon-blend sweatshirt, INR 17,000, Kanika Goyal Label. Polyester-blend jacket, INR 5,499, polyester-blend pants, INR 3,999, ‘Rise neon sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Brass earrings, INR 3,500, brass ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho.

Polyester mesh top, INR 6,500, NoughtOne. Cotton nylon-blend sweatshirt, INR 17,000, Kanika Goyal Label. Polyester-blend jacket, INR 5,499, polyester-blend pants, INR 3,999, ‘Rise neon sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Brass earrings, INR 3,500, brass ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho.

Polyester mesh top, INR 6,500, NoughtOne. Cotton nylon-blend sweatshirt, INR 17,000, Kanika Goyal Label. Polyester-blend jacket, INR 5,499, polyester-blend pants, INR 3,999, ‘Rise neon sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Brass earrings, INR 3,500, brass ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho.

Polyester mesh top, INR 6,500, NoughtOne. Cotton nylon-blend sweatshirt, INR 17,000, Kanika Goyal Label. Polyester-blend jacket, INR 5,499, polyester-blend pants, INR 3,999, ‘Rise neon sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Brass earrings, INR 3,500, brass ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho.

Polyester-blend sports bra, INR 3,999, polyester-blend mesh top INR 2,499, polyester-blend tights, INR 4,499, ‘Zone XT Metal sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Cotton and Lycra net pullover, INR 10,650, shorts, INR 5,680; both NORBLACK NORWHITE. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Polyester-blend sports bra, INR 3,999, polyester-blend mesh top INR 2,499, polyester-blend tights, INR 4,499, ‘Zone XT Metal sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Cotton and Lycra net pullover, INR 10,650, shorts, INR 5,680; both NORBLACK NORWHITE. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Polyester-blend sports bra, INR 3,999, polyester-blend mesh top INR 2,499, polyester-blend tights, INR 4,499, ‘Zone XT Metal sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Cotton and Lycra net pullover, INR 10,650, shorts, INR 5,680; both NORBLACK NORWHITE. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Polyester-blend sports bra, INR 3,999, polyester-blend mesh top INR 2,499, polyester-blend tights, INR 4,499, ‘Zone XT Metal sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Cotton and Lycra net pullover, INR 10,650, shorts, INR 5,680; both NORBLACK NORWHITE. Gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); both Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Polyester-blend sportsbra, INR 3,999, polyester blend jacket, INR 4,999, nylon-blend jacket, INR 4,999, track pants, INR 3,999, ‘Zone XT sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Brass necklace, INR 12,950, necklace, INR 12,500, gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); all Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Polyester-blend sportsbra, INR 3,999, polyester blend jacket, INR 4,999, nylon-blend jacket, INR 4,999, track pants, INR 3,999, ‘Zone XT sports shoe’, INR 6,999; all Puma. Brass necklace, INR 12,950, necklace, INR 12,500, gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); all Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Mary Kom with her daughter Neivar Kom
Cotton sweatshirt, INR 9,500, Dhruv Kapoor. Brass necklace, INR 12,950, necklace, INR 12,500, gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); all Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Cotton sweatshirt, INR 9,500, Dhruv Kapoor. Brass necklace, INR 12,950, necklace, INR 12,500, gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); all Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai

Cotton sweatshirt, INR 9,500, Dhruv Kapoor. Brass necklace, INR 12,950, necklace, INR 12,500, gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); all Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Cotton sweatshirt, INR 9,500, Dhruv Kapoor. Brass necklace, INR 12,950, necklace, INR 12,500, gold-plated sterling silver rings, INR 7,800 (part of a set); all Misho. 18K gold earrings, INR 22,660, The Line. Brass ring, INR 11,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 1,200, ring, INR 1,800, ring, INR 2,000; all Kichu at Nimai.

Photographs: Colston Julian / @SonyAlpha; Styling: Malini Banerji; Hair And Make-up: Anu Kaushik/Sparkle Talent Management; Assisted by: Pujarini Ghosh, Tejaswini Sinha (Styling), Sejal Goyal (Intern), Lawan Tamang, Jasmin Tuteja (Hair And Make-up); Design Realisation: Prashish More