“If your armpits are trending on the internet and CNN America is carrying it, then I must be a star,” said Priyanka Chopra.
She may be joking, but the Quantico actress, who is in Madrid to attend the 17th edition of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, has perfectly summed up her life right now.
Ever since she made her US TV debut as an FBI recruit in the hit TV series Quantico and landed a role in the movie version of Baywatch, she has become America’s sweetheart. The world follows her every move.
Last week, men’s magazine Maxim India carried an allegedly heavily Photoshopped armpit of Chopra on its June/July cover. The digital alteration of the former Miss World took social media by storm and triggered a debate on her armpits, digital Photoshopping and celebrity culture. While the magazine is yet to comment, Chopra responded with a tweet: “Here’s another pit-stopping picture to add to the debate,” and a picture of her with her untouched armpits exposed. She slayed it.
But the singer and actress isn’t taking her success too seriously.
“I have always been the same person … How I am with you right now, I am with them, too. I just do my work which I love. I have never known how to strategise nor do I plan my moves heavily,” said Chopra, adding that she has a lot more to achieve in her life. A hit TV series and a Hollywood film project is just the beginning for this singer, actor and producer.
“While I am grateful that people have accepted my work and like what I am doing, I don’t think I am an icon,” said Chopra.
Her potential is yet to be reached, says the actress whose film Bajirao Mastani is leading the IIFA nominations this year.
“Indian actors have so much potential. If I had to rate my work from one to ten, I can only give myself one. There’s lots of work to be done. By doing just one film in the West, it’s not enough.
“I got incredible recognition in many parts of the world, but I still have a long way to go and achieve,” said Chopra.
She’s the classic case of a celebrity living on a plane and out of a suitcase. And what she has observed is that Bollywood is heavily misconstrued in many parts of the world.
“Many people think that Bollywood is an offshoot of Hollywood or it’s some spoof and it really upsets me. At the moment, I am educating the people about Bollywood and our cinema,” said Chopra. She doesn’t shy away from the musical nature of Hindi films.
“Why should we be ashamed about dancing? We, as people, can dance during dinner or when a baby is born or when a world cup is won. It’s who we are, and we don’t have to be apologetic about being who we are,” said Chopra.
Her analogy is simple.
“These songs and dance that we see in our films are not random. There’s a thought behind it and it is an infusion of pop culture and movies. No other country in the world does that. We have no radio where pop culture exists. We don’t have a Beyonce or a Rihanna in our lives. Our movies are a combination of pop music and motion picture. Nobody in the world has been able to do it like we have and I am extremely proud of it,” said Chopra.
She’s equally game to be subjected to intense scrutiny that that comes with being a public figure.
“Scrutiny has always existed for a public figure. You have to move with the times and evolve according to what is going on around us. The internet has its good and bad, but I don’t think public figures need to change who they are,” she said. “If you are afraid and have something to hide, then you should be careful about what you do and say. I don’t. I have always been opinionated. I don’t have much to hide.”
QUOTE-UNQUOTE
“I hope they see me as Bond. But I don’t think the world is ready for a female bond,” said Chopra, when asked what she thought of playing the famous spy.
“What makes me happy is that my first film in America will be that of a villain. It will be exciting to make the lives of six lifeguards miserable.” - Priyanka Chopra on her upcoming role in Baywatch, the movie.
