I was called 'browny' in US school: Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra, who went to high school for a few years in Boston, said she faced racial issues there as some fellow students called her "browny" and pointed a finger at her for being an Indian.

Priyanka Chopra, who went to high school for a few years in Boston, said she faced racial issues there as some fellow students called her "browny" and pointed a finger at her for being an Indian.

In an inspiring speech at the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit this evening, the 30-year-old actress took an exulting crowd of hundreds of students through her life's journey from being "gawky kid" to a Bollywood star.

"I was living in Bareily, from there I went straight to Boston and joined school there. I didn't know how to fit in. Also, I faced some racial issues. Some girls called me 'browny' and I was typecast, pointed a finger at for being Indian," Priyanka said.

The bullying ensued into a fight and Priyanka was suspended from school for three days.

But the actress said going to school in America was a huge lesson in life as it taught her to be more confident.

Delivering a speech on perfection, Priyanka said she is not perfect and it's okay to be flawed as "long as you are being yourself.

"My life was an epitome of imperfection. I'm not perfect like Aishwarya Rai, beautiful, stunning. I was a gawky kid, only thing I knew was to work hard and learn. I didn't know how to act or win a beauty pageant. My career has been instinctive, but every situation taught me something."

The former Miss World also said that life is all about taking chances and it's not worth living if there are no risks involved.

"Today I have the courage to do a commercial, mainstream film like Barfi!, when half of India doesn't even know what autism is. But I have the courage to take that chance."

Barfi!, where Priyanka is playing an autistic girl, is set to release on September 14, a day after her debut international single In My City is set to be unveiled.

"I am nervous about both Barfi! and my single coming together. I don't know which one will people like. It's a chance I am taking and a new journey I am embarking on. I have worked with the world's biggest music label, Interscope, for this album. The single is also going to be the theme song for National Football League (NFL)," she said.

The song In My City, featuring Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.i.am, is Priyanka's tribute to all the cities she grew up in.