'My quest': Priyanka Chopra brings Bollywood to Toronto

No Indian star has made a bigger splash in Hollywood than Priyanka Chopra -- and the "Baywatch" actress told AFP she is on a quest to shatter myths about Bollywood.

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.

Actress Priyanka Chopra, left, and Farhan Akhtar attend a premiere for "The Sky is Pink."

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 told AFP ahead of the premiere Friday.

Farhan Akhtar, director Shonali Bose and actress Priyanka Chopra attend the premiere of the film.

'Dying wish'

"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."

Niren Chaudhary, Priyanka Chopra, Aditi Chaudhary, and Farhan Akhtar pose for the media.

Bose, whose own marriage ended after she lost her son, was approached by Chaudhary's parents to make the film.

Global outlook

As beauty pageants led to acting, Chopra, who attended school in the US, said she held onto her global outlook.

Actress Priyanka Chopra is seen during the premiere of the film.

Also a singer, Chopra has released songs with US chart-toppers including Pitbull and The Chainsmokers.

Agence France-Presse