Priyanka Chopra: I was the first person of South Asian descent to ever headline a TV show in America

Priyanka Chopra never ceases to amaze her with her confidence, hard work and the way she has been setting benchmarks for South Asian actors in Hollywood. The Barfi actress is now all set to release her memoir, Unfinished. The book will chronicle PeeCee’s journey of self-discovery.

Priyanka has been in the industry for almost two decades. In a recent interview with Film Companion, the actress opened up about how she felt secure enough to write this book now. PeeCee also spoke about breaking stereotypes for South Asian actors in Hollywood.

Earlier Priyanka had said that she was able to write her memoir Unfinished because she felt secure. When asked what she was insecure about, the actress told Film Companion, “Of Swimming in uncharted territory. I have always swum in uncharted territory. When I was supposed to be an engineer or have an academic career. When I was very young I went to boarding school when I was in third grade. I went to America when I was 12-year-old. It was my decision that I want to go to America to study in high school without my parents. So uncharted territory has always been where and who I am. And even my career for that matter, I never went to an acting school and no one in my family has ever acted. My dad used to do school plays and nautankis and all. Besides that, it was all very uncharted. I learnt everything on the job.”

 

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The Fashion actress went on to add, “In the same way when I came to America, the fact that I was the first person of South Asian descent to ever headline a TV show (Quantico) and that was in 2015-16. It’s very recent. So it was completely uncharted territory. At least for me, Indians in Hollywood have always put in a stereotypical box of what we should play and here I was playing mainstream roles. Demanding I don’t want to be defined by my ethnicity. It has taken me five years now to finally be doing a leading part in mainstream romantic comedy, feature or a dramatic part in a movie. It took like breaking down doors. That’s the insecurity when you are trying to go somewhere where there’s not an opportunity waiting for you. It’s like you don’t know the result of and it’s super scary.”

We can’t marvel enough about how inspiring PeeCee is. The actress has definitely opened doors for other actors and showed the world how talent shouldn’t be defined by one’s ethnicity.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra on her book Unfinished: If it doesn’t matter to me, it is not in the book

Pooja Sharma

Cinephile. Bibliophile. Pluviophile. Selenophile. Autophile. Aesthete. Blood group- Tea positive. Poetry lover. Sucker of rom-coms.

PS: Sharmaji ki Ladki sucks at writing bios.
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