I Don't Want To Be A Stereotype;

I Used To Get Upset With The Word Bollywood, And What It Means In The West. The Stereotype Of Us Being Dancing, Singing, Puppet Showgirls. Indians Are Nearly One Fifth Of The World's Population; We Have One Of The Most Prolific Film Industries In The World. When People Used To Ask Me About It, Or Replicate What They Think Is Bollywood Dancing, Thinking That They're Being Funny, I Used To Get Offended. But Now I Show Them The Stuff We Do.

I'm Lucky. I Don't Know Whether I'm Deserving Or Not. All I Know Is That I Work Damn Hard For Everything. And God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. Every Day Is Like An Exam. I Believe Destiny And Hard Work Go Hand In Hand. I Was Studying To Be An Engineer When My Mom And My Brother Sent My Pictures For The Miss India Contest. I Didn't Even Know About It. If That Isn't Destiny, What Is?

When Someone Asks Me About My Diet I Feel Terrible Saying That I Don't Really Have One.

There Have Been So Many Nations Around The World That Have Had Female Leaders, Including India.

I Did Not Want To Be The Stereotype Of Either Bollywood Or What Indian Actors Are Usually Offered. The Exotic, Beautiful Girl, Or The Academically Inclined Nerd. And I Wanted To Play A Lead... I Didn't Settle For Less.