Actor Priyanka Chopra has landed herself amidst a raging controversy after she called India’s north-east state Sikkim ‘troubled with insurgency.’
While talking about Pahuna, the latest film being made under her home productions, Purple Pebble Pictures, Chopra said, “Sikkim is a small state in the Northeast of India which never had a film industry of its own or anyone who made films from there and this is the first film ever that came out from this region because it is very troubled with insurgency…”
Prinyanka made the comments at at Toronto International Film Festival in the Canadian capital, Ottawa.
The actor was instantly slammed on social media for calling a state ‘troubled with insurgency.’
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
As per my knowledge sikkim us one of the most peaceful state of india…which sikkim is she talking about ?
— Proud indian (@Jit_indian) September 14, 2017
@priyankachopra should know Sikkim which she claims is a small insurgency hit state in India is a biggest organic farming state .
— Savita (@saavy_m) September 14, 2017
Wonder what narcotics @priyankachopra has gotten into in USA, that makes her think Sikkim has insurgency problem!
— Krombopulos Macron (@gadotsky) September 14, 2017
There were reports that Sikkim Tourism ministry was a partner in Pahuna, as it removed around the state. But now the ministry is having a rethink in light of latest development.
As per the latest news reports, the actress has apologized to the Sikkim government. Her mother Madhu Chopra stepped into the matter and had a word with tourism minister of Sikkim Ugen Gyatso to apologise for the statement on behalf of Priyanka.
“Her mother spoke to me over phone and has apologized for the comment,” Ugen Gyatso, the tourism minister of Sikkim confirmed in a statement to the media.
As reported by Eclectic Northeast, Pahuna, was not the first feature film to come from Sikkim. The website said that Prashant Rasaily, a very talented filmmaker have made acclaimed films like ‘Katha’ and ‘Acharya’.
“This year a Lepcha film ‘Dhokbu’ premiered which also earned a lot of praise. There are also movies by Ugen Chatola, many of which starred superstar Danny Denzongpa, who himself hails from Sikkim and these movies got great commercial success as well,” it further reported.