About six months ago, Priyanka Chopra's pictures were splashed across billboards in America for her television show. A first for a Bollywood actor. A few months later, her crackling debut on the American small screen won her The People's Choice Award. Next, she is one of the 13 esteemed presenters at the 88th Academy Awards. Another first for an Indian actor. We are mighty proud, and PC is over the moon. “It is my first year here as an actor and so much has already happened; I am overwhelmed. There are 13 awards, and I will be presenting one of them in the company of actors that I have admired for years,“ Priyanka tells us excitedly. Ask her if her 'Indianness' makes her stand out in the West and she says, “I don't think of myself as an Indian or American actor. I am just an actor. I am proud of being an Indian and of course, it adds to my uniqueness. But all I really want is to be taken seriously as an actor and do my job.“

Being a part of the Oscars means sashay ing on the red carpet, posing for the paparazzi and all the frills that come with it. And of course, the obvious question - what and who will she be wearing on the big night? Will she be in a desi avatar? “It probably won't be an all Indian avatar. The red carpet is about the right mood and what you feel comfortable in. It will be quite a process for my stylist. I am never nervous on the red carpet, as Bollywood award shows have trained me well enough for it. When I walk at the award shows in the West, I don't know too many people, but a lot of them have seen my show. I guess they can sense that I am a little awkward and shy, so they come up to me and talk about my work, about India and our culture.“ she says.

And what about being on the other side, some day? As an Oscar nominee, maybe? She laughs, “Bahut door dekh rahey hain,“ and she adds, “Well, in six months I have reached so far, hopefully my good work will win me an Oscar nomination some day too. But that's jumping the gun, and looking too far ahead. People think that the minute you reach the top that's what success is all about. But honestly, you have to consistently take small and steady steps to reach the pinnacle and be there. Every small step I have taken has resulted in where I am today .I have to continue doing that.“

The Oscar diversity debate is raging with several Hollywood biggies planning to boycott the event, which is being held on February 28 in California. Talking about it, PC says, “Diversity is very important anywhere. I am not someone who is into extremes, but I do believe that major steps need to be taken on the diversity issue by the entertainment industry. I feel television has taken that leap. On my American television show, we have so much diversity. We are heading in that direction and I am hopeful about it.“

And what about the ongoing debate on gender pay inequality in Hollywood? Top actresses are fighting this issue and it is a sensitive point of discussion back home, in Bollywood too. “I think gender pay gap is a global problem. It exists everywhere and I think women in arts, entertainment and cinema are taking strides in this area. It is a slow and steady march and women have to support each other in this fight. Films with just women on the posters are drawing interest and doing well, too. It shows how far we have reached.“

While she is ecstatic about the upswing in her career, what's given her a real high is receiving the Padma Shri. “It came as a shock to me. So much has happened this year, but the Padma Shri is what I am most excited about.“

Ask her about the news of her next project in the West - reportedly the big screen adaptation of the popular American TV show Baywatch -and she doesn't confirm or deny it. “I am discussing a bunch of films here (Hollywood), and in India. I will be taking a hiatus between April and August, so I will have to fit in any new project in between that. I guess this is the way my life will be for the next couple of years -between two countries. There are few people who can get to be in my shoes. I might make some mistakes too, but I will learn and take the risk,“ she signs off.

Priyanka Chopra is wooing the West and how. PC won the 'Favourite Actress in a New TV Series Award' at the People's Choice Awards 2016 for Quantico, and presented an award to Vin Diesel at the same event. She also attended the Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG) recently. Inching closer to international stardom, she'll now be a presenter at the forthcoming Oscars, which will be held on February 28 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, LA.

Amidst the ongoing outrage against the Academy over the nominees' lack of diversity, the official Twitter handle of the 88th Academy Awards announced its second slate of 13 new Oscar presenters on Monday. It had Priyanka's name on it along side the likes of esteemed artistes like Steve Carell, Jared Leto, Julianne Moore, Olivia Munn, Margot Robbie, Jason Segel, Andy Serkis, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, to name a few. An ecstatic Priyanka tweeted, “Looking forward to the Academy Awards. This will be an insaaaane night!“ (sic)

In a statement talking about the presenters, Oscars' producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin said, “These artistes have enriched the international movie-going experience with a range of memorable work from the comic to the profound. In the process, they have won over millions of fans, and we count ourselves among them.“