‘Quantico’ Star Priyanka Chopra On The Racism Of The ‘Bollywood’ Label
Quantico star Priyanka Chopra has already achieved more than most will ever attempt in their lifetimes by breaking racial and ethnic barriers, as well as expanding her influence beyond her own country’s borders. While she maintains a prolific acting career in her Indian homeland, Priyanka has also crossed over into American television and filmmaking. Ms. Chopra has earned respect and fame starring in ABC’s Quantico and now she’s set to make her American feature film debut in Baywatch.
In a new interview, Priyanka talks about some of her favorite things, but she also opens up about her dislike for the racism and prejudices she’s encountered in crossing over into American pop culture.
Quantico Star Priyanka Chopra Talks Bollywood Racism
For many of her American fans, following Priyanka has meant learning about a new culture. The Quantico actress is proud of her Indian heritage and she’s happy to share that with her fans and followers, but, at the same time, she doesn’t like being labeled specifically as an Indian actress. She says those kinds of labels place divisions on us and our society is already too divided.
The same line of thinking goes for the term Bollywood, says Priyanka. She points out that the Indian film industry puts out a wide array of original films in every genre each year and that there is no affiliation between her country’s filmmaking industry and the Hollywood industry of America.
Ms. Chopra also correctly points out that similar stereotypes aren’t applied to other countries, or to actors from outside the U.S.
“We don’t say, ‘Spanish celebrity Penelope Cruz’ or ‘Italian star Sophia Loren.’ So why make it a defining point for me?”
Ms. Chopra shows her gratitude to ABC for encompassing a policy of accepting diversity in casting her in Quantico. She explains that the production company didn’t seek her out to fill a quota or to encourage misconstrued stereotypes. Instead, Priyanka was cast due to her acting abilities.
“I’m trying to be global and trying to push us, as a society, to becoming colorblind, and so I’m very grateful to ABC for casting me in Quantico. It was based on my merit, not on my ethnicity,” says Chopra. “The part wasn’t written for an Indian girl, it was just written for an a– kicking, mess of a girl, and I happen to portray her best.”
Priyanka Chopra Believes Women Should Be Curvy
Society is just beginning to change the archaic views of what is considered sexy and helping that change along are celebrities like Priyanka, who are speaking out in favor of more curvaceous women. A size 2 is no longer the end all, be all of female sexuality, thanks to Ms. Chopra and others like her.
“I believe in a woman having curves,” the Baywatch actress said in an interview with InStyle magazine. “Everyone has a different body type, and you have to find what’s best about your body type.”
The now famous Quantico actress reveals that she was bullied as a young girl and suggests that her experiences taught her to embrace the differences that make us unique. Bullies are everywhere and Priyanka says she still encounters them all too often, thanks to the wonders of social media.
“It’s odd, we’re not tolerant at all anymore and the more we have a voice, the more we hide behind anonymity and talk crap. You’re going to have trolls everywhere,” Priyanka says.
The Quantico star adds that the best thing anyone can do is to ignore the haters, because that’s the fastest way to take away their power. Instead, Ms. Chopra proves she won’t be intimidated into silence by trolls and bullies. She speaks her mind and keeps herself out there to interact with those fans that are respectful and treat her decently.
Quantico airs Sundays on ABC.
[Image by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]
