Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who has produced a Sikkimese film Pahuna, has ruffled feathers in the hilly state by calling it an insurgency-troubled land. Netizens have slammed her for ignorance and for being “politically illiterate”.
The National Award winning actress spoke about Sikkim in an interview to ET Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) while discussing her production Pahuna: The Little Visitors, which premiered at the gala.
“This is a Sikkimese film. Sikkim is a small state in the Northeast of India which never had a film industry or anyone who made films from there. And this is the first film ever that’s come out of that region because it’s very troubled with insurgency and troubling situations,” Priyanka said in the interview.
The remark was immediately slammed on Twitter.
#PriyankaChopra says #Sikkim is a troubled state in interview 2 US media. Pea-sized brain, zero homework. Is this how u make money?
— Indira Laisram (@indira_laisram) September 13, 2017
Infact it is foolish to create controversy on @priyankachopra‘s statement over #Sikkim as Celebs like her are ‘politically illiterate’. 1/2
— Tawqeer Hussain (@tawqeerhussain) September 14, 2017
Earlier we have witnessed that many celebs don’t know the name of the Prez of India, so don’t expect them to be politically correct 2/2
— Tawqeer Hussain (@tawqeerhussain) September 14, 2017
Dear Priyanka Chopra, Sikkim is a peaceful place and #Pahuna is not the first film from the region. Plz get the facts right about NorthEast.
— Biswatosh Sinha (@biswatosh) September 14, 2017
@priyankachopra get your facts right before speaking out. #Sikkim is one of the most beautiful states of our country. #NoInsurgencyInSikkim
— Jayesh Veeraraghavan (@JayeshRaghavan) September 14, 2017
Incidentally, Priyanka is the tourism ambassador of Assam, one of the sister states in Northeast India.
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Pahuna..., directed by first timer Paakhi A. Tyrewala, was launched as an association between Priyanka and her mother Madhu Chopra’s banner Purple Pebble Pictures and Ministry of Tourism Sikkim.
“This is a film about two kids and the refugee crisis they face…,” Priyanka described the movie.
Ugen Gyatso, the tourism minister of Sikkim,condemned Priyanka Chopra’s statement and had sought an apology from the actor.
Her mother Madhu Chopra spoke to Ugen Gyatso, the tourism minister of Sikkim to apologise for the comment.
“Her mother spoke to me over phone and has apologised for the comment,” Ugen Gyatso, the tourism minister of Sikkim, told India Today Television.