Indian star Priyanka Chopra was verbally attacked at an event in the US by a Pakistani woman who accused her of encouraging nuclear war against her country.
Questions on the Indian government’s recent moves in Kashmir and other sensitive political issues are raised unannounced by aggressive voices.
Priyanka Chopra tweeted during a time when we were this 👌🏽 close to sending nukes to one another. Instead of advocating for peace she tweeted in support of the Indian army pic.twitter.com/LhbMkOW59v
— Ayesha Malik (@Spishaa) August 11, 2019
The audience member questioned the actor’s role as a United Nations Goodwill ambassador in the light of her February 26 tweet where she congratulated the Indian Air Force after Indian fighter jets attacked the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)’s terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan.
Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces 🇮🇳 🙏🏽
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 26, 2019
“Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces,” Priyanka’s tweet read.
In a video on social media from the Beautycon Los Angeles event a woman sitting in the audience said she was a Pakistani and pointed fingers at Priyanka.
“You are United Nations Goodwill ambassador for peace and you are encouraging nuclear war in Pakistan. There is no way you are in this… As a Pakistani, millions of people like me have supported you in your business,” the attacker yelled.
Priyanka dodged it with grace and responded, “I have many, many friends from Pakistan and I am from India.War is not something I’m really fond of but I am patriotic, so I’m sorry if I hurt sentiments to people who do love me and have loved me. But I think that all of us have a, sort of, middle ground that we all have to walk. Just like you probably do as well. The way that you came to me right now… girl, don’t yell. We’re all here for love.”
Though she responded elegantly, others may not be so fortunate. A young popular actress says the situation is dicey. “Pataa nahin kaun kahan pe kya puchega. (I don’t know who will ask what from where). This is especially dangerous at international events, where the audience consists of people from all over the world. I am sometimes asked about issues related to Indian politics that I have no clue about,” she says.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher who is globally known and respected, says it’s time for Indian entertainers to leave their bubbles. “You can’t be up on a stage at an international event and not be prepared to answer uncomfortable questions. At the same time, you have to give politically correct answers or you will get into trouble when you return home. I do my homework before I go abroad. I don’t want to be caught on the wrong foot,” he says.