Priyanka Chopra is going places in Hollywood. She already went places in Bollywood and now, it’s in Hollywood. After recently presenting at the Oscars 2016, Priyanka was back on the sets of ‘Baywatch’, where she’s playing the villain. Here’s PC talking about a bunch of things that matter to her.
Priyanka Chopra on people’s expectations of her role in ‘Quantico’
I’m not even Indian-American, I’m Indian-Indian. Everybody expected me to have henna and a nose pin and talk in an accent like Apu from The Simpsons. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if America was ready for a lead that looked like me.
Priyanka on breaking into Hollywood
People think I had this big plan to break America, but I never did. I have never had a plan when it comes to my career: America came to me with an opportunity.
Priyanka on the kind of role she was looking for
I wanted to be cast as an actor on merit as being the best person for the job. I didn’t want to be a stereotype of what an Indian girl should be. I wanted to be what I personify in my Indian movies: independent, sexy, good at my job and really smart.
Priyanka on facing racial abuse
My song replaced one from Faith Hill, who is like the all-American girl and suddenly there was this brown girl and the NFL got so many emails from fans saying: Who is this Arab terrorist?’ I got so much of it, too. I find it really funny that people have such primitive thinking.I called them out. I said: Why is every Arab person a terrorist, and why am I an Arab terrorist just because I am brown?.
Priyanka on not boycotting the Oscars because of lack of diversity
I am too new in this industry to be taking extreme decisions like that. When it comes to India I am very vocal about how I feel, but I am just six months old here.
Priyanka on being a feminist
I am exercising my feminist right to be in that beauty pageant. Men are going to objectify women. But feminism is just saying: give me the independence and the ability to make my own choices.