MID-DAY (September 15, 2017)

After facing a backlash from the people of Sikkim, as well as on social media for her comments on the peace situation in the state, Priyanka Chopra yesterday rendered an apology. The actor and her production company, Purple Pebble Films, said sorry to Sikkim’s tourism minister, Ugen T Gyatso.

PeeCee had also claimed that her Sikkimese production Pahuna: The Little Visitors, directed by Pakhi Tyrewala was the first film from the state. Gyatso gave the example of Dev Anand’s Jewel Thief (1967) as one of the earliest films shot in Sikkim.

Meanwhile, a letter written by Priyanka to the minister went viral on social media. In the letter, Priyanka says that her comments were “misconstrued”. She asserts, “I mentioned how Sikkim was grappling with the refugee situation caused by insurgencies. I had meant by the neighbouring countries. I’m fully aware that Sikkim is an incredible host nation to so many refugees...”

On Wednesday, Chopra was slammed on social media for calling Sikkim an “insurgency affected state.” The actor recently presented her home production at the Toronto International Film Festival. She claimed in an interview with an international channel, ET Canada, that it was the first-ever film to have emerged from Sikkim as it’s a “troubled” region.

Chopra said, “This is a Sikkimese film. Sikkim is a small state in the North East of India which never had a film industry or anyone who made films from there. And this is the first film ever that's come out of that region because it's very troubled with insurgency and troubling situations. I’m excited,” the actor said.

Soon after her interview resurfaced, many Twitter users started slamming the actor for being ‘politically illiterate’. Biswatosh Sinha, a screenwriter from Assam, posted, “Dear Priyanka Chopra, Sikkim is a peaceful place and Pahuna is not the first film from the region. Please get the facts right about north-east."

One user wrote, “Does she know the difference between Sikkim and other north east states? This is how India is defamed.”

Incidentally, Priyanka is the tourism ambassador of Assam, one of the sister states in northeast India.