Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is playing the role of India's Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom in a biopic inspired by her life, and to get a first-hand experience of the boxer's life-style, the popular actress visited the boxer's home-town Imphal, Manipur.

She met the five-time world boxing champion and also her family, and spent some quality time with them. One of India's sporting legends Ms Kom had expressed in December her desire to show the actress around her house in Manipur and introduce her to the way she lives there.

Priyanka had gone to Manipur with eight crew members, including her bodyguard. The actress had taken with her presents for the three children of the diminutive boxer. Ms Kom is a mother of three boys; she gave birth to her third son this May.

Ms Kom, also called Magnificent Mary, and Priyanka together went to meet the boxer's long-time coach L Ibomcha Singh. According to The Times of India report, Priyanka also visited Ms Kom's native Kangathei villaige in Churachandpur district.

Ms Kom, 30, overcame poverty, unfriendly terrain, poorly-equipped sports facilities, gender bias to become one of India's sporting legends. V. Krishnaswamy writes in Forbes' feature story on her, "She had gone against her father's wishes to pursue boxing. Then she went against the advice of family and friends, who said she would not be able to maintain her standards after her marriage, but her husband gave her his full support. And then she had kids, which can spell the end of any woman athlete's career."

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is producing the biopic and according to a local daily, some parts of the scenes will be shot in different parts of Manipur. Omung Kumar will direct the movie and Seisaiwyn Qundras has written the script of the movie.

"It is an inspiring story that touched my heart. Not many films are based on biopics of living people, so this is a rare experiment. I am proud that I am part of this film," Bhansali, who is producing the film, told PTI in August, 2012.

The film is due for a release in 2014.

The actress tweets about her visit and posts pics on Instagram:

Road tripppp! Interiors of Manipur r so full of character..with #MaryKom as my travel guide..anything is possible! Instagram Pic

Too happy to be hosted by #MaryKom and her husband Onler in beautiful Manipur..checked out all her haunts! Instagram Pic

Champions r made from tuff stuff!! Learning from the champ herself! Instagram Pic