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Before ‘insurgency-hit’, Priyanka Chopra called Sikkim a ‘trouble spot’ too
At the world premiere of her film Pahuna: The Little Visitors at Toronto film fest , Priyanka Chopra made a similar remark about the northeastern state during the course of a Q&A with the audience.
Priyanka Chopra’s supposed gaffe about unrest in the northeastern state of Sikkim during the course of an interview to a Canadian channel while at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was not an isolated instance. According to some who attended the world premiere of her film Pahuna: The Little Visitors, she made a similar remark about the northeastern state during the course of a Q&A with the audience following the screening of the movie.
One person who was present for that special event at the Toronto festival said the import of her words as she spoke was that Sikkim “is a trouble spot, facing militancy”.
The world premiere screening, before a packed theatre, took place at the Scotiabank multiplex in Toronto on September 7.
Speaking in an interview after Pahuna received a standing ovation at TIFF, Priyanka told ET Canada, “Sikkim is a small state in the North-east of India which never had a film industry or anyone who made a film from the region. This is the first film ever that’s come out of that region, because it’s very troubled with insurgency and troubling situations.”
Chopra was widely criticised on social media and by residents of the northeastern states for her remarks, which people described as incorrect and exaggerated. The incident has tarnished what was a prestigious appearance for Chopra at this year’s TIFF. The actor has apologised to the state government for her remarks.
On September 6, she headlined the festival’s inaugural programme, a fund-raiser for TIFF’s new initiative, Share Her Journey, aimed at promoting gender equity in the film industry.
The next day, she was present for the world premiere of Pahuna, a production of her company, Purple Pebble Pictures, and the first feature from the production house to make its global debut at this international film showcase event.
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