Celeb News: Priyanka Talks Stereotypes

LoKoPaNdA

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Recently, Chopra met up with Swagata Dam, a writer for Miss Malini, and opened up about what it’s like to be Indian in America.
She began by explaining that she studied in America, and while she was there she noticed a lot of stereotypes that Indians faced.

“I witnessed a lot of racism and that’s exactly why I came back to India. I was 16 years old. I was called a ‘Brownie’ and some even told me, “Go back to where you came from.” At that point in time, I couldn’t deal with it. So when these international opportunities came to me, beginning with my music, I decided to try and bring relevance to Indian talent because I was given the opportunity.”
She went on to explain that she wanted to break the stereotypes by which Indians are usually depicted on American television.

“Everybody doesn’t speak like Apu from The Simpsons. We all don’t smell of curry. We all are not ugly-looking nerds, who are shy and always keep sitting behind their computers. Yes, we are very proud of our big families but that doesn’t mean ki har gaadi mein se 15 log bahar niklenge. In global pop-culture, we are always represented like that. I wanted to break that.”

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LoKoPaNdA

I agree with her, Indians and East Asians are usually stereotyped as nerds in American TV. Or as exotic girls in te case of Priyanka, glad she is fighting against that. Some people said Aziz Ansari and Mindy Kaling were fighting that stereotype but their experiences as Indian Americans are different from those of an actual Indian like Priyanka

Phunk

I don't know of her but she's right.

dannyboy

I agree with her, very well said.

Signs

Hypocritical, after promoting skin lightening creams, she's just as bad if anything (I'm south asian before anyone tries to come for me)

dannyboy

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Originally posted by Signs

Hypocritical, after promoting skin lightening creams, she's just as bad if anything (I'm south asian before anyone tries to come for me)

I'm white and I have used skin lightening creams. They're not used for making you appear white, but to fade hyperpigmentation and brown spots.

Priyanka Chopra

I don't know what she's talking about with the large families thing, but the accent thing is true. Like some people openly tell me they're shocked I can speak English well.

The smell thing is true too, but most of those people aren't even Indian. They just call any South Asian "Indian".

And the nerd thing is new because many Americans don't even realize that the Indians are Asian and those statistics about Asians-Americans doing well are basically about Indian-Americans.

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Originally posted by Signs

Hypocritical, after promoting skin lightening creams, she's just as bad if anything (I'm south asian before anyone tries to come for me)

That was 13 years ago! Let it go!