Priyanka Chopra, no longer just desi girl

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If the reactions of the TCA are an indication then PeeCee has managed to charm the American press with her star persona, fashion quotient (her fuchsia coloured one-shouldered Victoria Beckham dress got her rave reviews on fashion websites) and her gift of the gab. As the first Bollywood star to get a starring role in an American television show, she seems quite proud of her Bollywood origins—unlike some of our other imports. She ain’t trying too hard to please the American press and strikes the right balance between an ingénue and a superstar. When asked about the physical training required to play an FBI agent, she acknowledged her work in action films in India with much pride, and stated that she knows how to be a badass. She was full of quotable quotes—leading with her description of Parrish being “Jason Bourne in female form.” Mindful of her status as an ex Miss World, PeeCee was categorical that she took on this role only to make an important statement on diversity. “The only thing I said to ABC was I wanted to do a show which gave me the respect of being an actor, instead of casting me for the color of my skin or what I look like,” she said at the TCA.

She’s already cut an international album and now with Quantico, Priyanka will only get more famous. She’s steadfast though that Bollywood will remain on her radar. She will be soon seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani and Prakash Jha’s Gangaajal 2 in which she plays a tough cop. She also has big plans for her production house, Purple Pebble Pictures.

Phew. All this clearly certifies her as a hardcore multitasker. She’s also hitting all the right notes as the (unofficial) brand ambassador of the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Needless to say, we’ll stay tuned.

harneet.singh@expressindia.com