Priyanka Chopra makes the great leap from Bollywood to Hollywood, landing a role in ABC's "Quantico." Set to premiere on Sept. 27, this newest show is a drama about a group of young FBI recruits who discover that among them is the suspected mastermind of the biggest attack on New York since 9/11.
Chopra is the first Bollywood movie star to headline in an American TV series.
The 33-year-old superstar says she is both excited and nervous over this new venture.
"I feel like a debutante, like how I felt when my first movie was releasing in 2003. Everytime I see a billboard, every time I see my face on a bus or a magazine, I'm just like, 'It's a new culture, a new country.' I hope that I'm accepted as an actor," she shares. Now, it seems like America really did accept her.
"This could be huge for the years ahead, not only for Priyanka but for other stars out of Bollywood, because Hollywood does have a copycat mentality," said BoxOfficeGuru.com editor Gitesh Pandya. "So when something works, competitors want to do the same thing," the entertainment analyst further explained.
In "Quantico," Chopra's character does not come across as a Bollywood actress.
Chopra plays Alex Parrish, a new FBI recruit. She describes her character as Jason Bourne in a female form.
"I love that she's a celebration of the modern woman," she stated.
The former Miss World, a well-established model and film actress in India, boasts of more than 10 million Twitter followers and more than 3 million on Instagram. She has also been chosen as the face of several brands, such as Nestlé, Garnier, Nokia and Pepsi. Chopra hosted the third season of India's "Fear Factor." In 2010, she was appointed a UNICEF National Ambassador, with the responsibility of promoting issues relating to child rights and adolescence. She was named "Most Influential Indian in the Social Media Circuit" by the digital advertising firm Pinstorm.
This big break for Chopra is indeed well-deserved, as she is known to use her influence to draw attention to important issues, particularly one that is close to her heart--adolescent nutrition. Since partnering with UNICEF, Chopra has been in a series of public service announcements that are aimed at championing education. She is a strong advocate of children's rights.
"My dad always told me -- and I always follow this," she said. "As a girl, you should not be someone who tries to fit into a glass slipper. You should shatter the glass ceiling, and that's what I'm trying to do."
"Quantico" airs on Sundays at 10|9c on ABC.
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