I was called `browny` in US school: Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra, who went to high school for a few years in Boston, said she faced racial issues there as some fellow students called her "browny" and pointed a finger at her for being an Indian.
|Last Updated: Sep 08, 2012, 12:40 PM IST|Source: Bureau
New Delhi: Priyanka Chopra, who went to high school for a few years in Boston, said she faced racial issues there as some fellow students called her "browny" and pointed a finger at her for being an Indian.
In an inspiring speech at the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit last evening, the 30-year-old actress took a crowd of hundreds of students through her life`s journey from being "gawky kid" to a Bollywood star.
"I was living in Bareily, from there I went straight to Boston and joined school there. I didn`t know how to fit in. Also, I faced some racial issues. Some girls called me `browny` and I was typecast, pointed a finger at for being Indian," Priyanka said.
The bullying ensued into a fight and Priyanka was suspended from school for three days. But the actress said going to school in America was a huge lesson in life as it taught her to be more confident. Delivering a speech on perfection, Priyanka said she is not perfect and it`s okay to be flawed as "long as you are being yourself.
"My life was an epitome of imperfection. I`m not perfect like Aishwarya Rai, beautiful, stunning. I was a gawky kid, only thing I knew was to work hard and learn. I didn`t know how to act or win a beauty pageant. My career has been instinctive, but every situation taught me something."
The former Miss World also said that life is all about taking chances and it`s not worth living if there are no risks involved.
"Today I have the courage to do a commercial, mainstream film like `Barfi!`, when half of India doesn`t even know what autism is. But I have the courage to take that chance."
"Barfi!", where Priyanka is playing an autistic girl, is set to release on September 14, a day after her debut international single `In My City` is set to be unveiled.
"I am nervous about both `Barfi!` and my single coming together. I don`t know which one will people like. It`s a chance I am taking and a new journey I am embarking on. I have worked with the world`s biggest music label, Interscope, for this album. The single is also going to be the theme song for National Football League (NFL)," she said.
The song `In My City`, featuring Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.I.Am, is Priyanka`s tribute to all the cities she grew up in.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.