TORONTO: No Indian star has made a bigger splash in Hollywood than Priyanka Chopra — and the “Baywatch” actress said she is on a quest to shatter myths about Bollywood, including its approach to sex.
Chopra was the first Indian actress to lead a primetime US series with FBI thriller “Quantico,” and cemented her global celebrity status by marrying pop singer Nick Jonas last December.
That star power secured a glitzy, red-carpet slot at Toronto’s film festival for “The Sky is Pink,” Chopra’s first Hindi-language film in three years. It is the only Asian film on the prestigious gala lineup at North America’s biggest movie festival.
“People get surprised when they see ‘The Sky is Pink’ and they’re like, ‘this is not a Bollywood movie.’ Bollywood is not a genre!” Chopra said ahead of the premiere Friday.
“It really is my quest to educate people in that.”
Directed by Shonali Bose, “The Sky is Pink” tells the tragic true story of Aisha Chaudhary, an inspirational Delhi teenager whose life was cut short by a rare genetic disorder.
Chaudhary delivered a TED talk and wrote a book on her battle before her death in 2015 at the age of 18. But the film focuses on her parents, exploring how their marriage and love — and even their sex life — survived the loss of two children.
Until recently kissing was rarely shown in films made by conservative Bollywood, better known abroad for its colorful musical numbers and fairytale romantic plots.
“I don’t think we haven’t spoken about sexuality in Indian films — we do,” said Chopra, 37. “I think sexuality is spoken about in many different ways in Indian cinema.”
“It’s culturally sensitive, yes,” she added. “India is an amalgamation of modernity and tradition. And this film is made by a modern Indian. So hence, you see what her language is. This is true to who she is.”
Bose, whose own marriage ended after she lost her son, was approached by Chaudhary’s parents to make the film.
Chaudhary had been a fervent fan of the director’s work, and never fulfilled her “dying wish” to see Bose’s previous film “Margarita With A Straw.”
Bose said she was moved by the request but chose to focus on the parents after learning of their “amazing” love story and care for their child.
“They wanted the film to be about their heroic dying teenage girl, and I don’t feel she would’ve wanted to be on a pedestal — actually she was really cool and humble,” she said.
Chopra, who does not have children, said she drew on others’ experiences, including Bose’s, to play Chaudhary’s mother Aditi.
But there is plenty of Chopra in the role too. At one point her character is described as “the ‘almost’ Miss India.” Chopra herself was crowned Miss World in 2000.
As beauty pageants led to acting, Chopra, who attended school in the US, said she held onto her global outlook.
Also a singer, Chopra has released songs with US chart-toppers including Pitbull and The Chainsmokers.
“It’s a genuine quest of mine to be able to cross-pollinate cultures, and to be able to take Indian cinema to the globe as much as I can,” she said, adding: “It’s not the language that’s the barrier — it is the fear of the unknown.”
Movie-mad India has the largest film industry in the world in terms of the number produced — up to 2,000 every year in more than 20 languages, according to industry data.
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar regularly appears in Forbes’ annual list of the world’s top 10 highest-paid actors.
In recent years Bollywood’s influence has spread in North America, thanks to a growing, affluent South Asian diaspora — and a smattering of Western converts.
But while other Bollywood actors and actresses have landed high-profile roles in the US, such as Deepika Padukone in 2017’s “XXX: Return of Xander Cage,” none are as recognizable as Chopra.
“I really hope that there’s so many more entertainers from India that get the opportunity and push themselves toward global entertainment,” said Chopra.
“The world of entertainment is so global now,” she added. “With streaming coming in everyone from anywhere can watch anything.”
‘My quest’: Priyanka Chopra brings Bollywood to Toronto
‘My quest’: Priyanka Chopra brings Bollywood to Toronto
- Priyanka Chopra was the first Indian actress to lead a primetime US series
- ‘The Sky is Pink is Chopra’s first Hindi-language film in three year
The difference between European and Gulf weddings — from a photographer’s point of view
DUBAI: From her early career in northeast France to working across the Gulf and Europe, wedding photographer Maddy Christina has observed many contrasts between such events in different parts of the world.
Her early years as a photographer were defined by variety; she worked across fashion, family portraits and weddings simultaneously before recognizing how wedding photography brings multiple genres together in a single day.
“I actually fell into weddings by accident,” Christina told Arab News. “It blends every discipline at once — fashion for the couple session, sports for the reception, documentary work throughout the day, still life with details and jewelry.”
Christina’s connection to the Middle East began through Parisian clients who invited her to Dubai for a post-wedding session: “I instantly connected with the energy of the city,” she said.
A few years later, a wedding in Kuwait marked the start of her long-term relationship with the region.
Now working extensively across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Christina said weddings in the region required a shift in both perspective and technique.
“Working across the GCC has opened my mind in ways I didn’t expect,” she said, adding it felt like “resetting everything I thought I knew about weddings” — particularly compared to her experience in Europe.
She said there were clear distinctions between the two regions. “European weddings tend to be more demonstrative and expressive, while brides in the Gulf often place a deeper emphasis on tradition, family bonds and a sense of ceremony,” she said. “The emotional language is different, yet equally beautiful.”
From a technical standpoint, the contrast is just as pronounced: “In the south of France, I was used to shooting outdoors at sunset with couples already comfortable in front of the camera. Here, I often find myself in much smaller spaces, with no windows, artificial light and couples who may be more reserved.”
She added that adapting to these conditions pushed her to explore new ways of shaping light and expanded her creative approach.
While Christina is drawn to candid moments, like “guests laughing together, old friends reconnecting, a fleeting emotion passing across someone’s face,” posed pictures remain central to her work.
For Christina, the most meaningful aspect extends beyond the wedding day itself.
“It’s not the decor that makes a wedding unforgettable for me,” she said. “It’s the connection I build with the bride. That long-term bond is what feels truly magical.”
