Priyanka Chopra Picks Hot Dogs Over Vada Pav. Kal Penn Asks, ‘Are People Not Allowed?'
The internet was divided over Priyanka Chopra Jonas ' food choices. It all started after she chose a hot dog over OG Indian street food, vada pav. Her comment sparked a debate, with many questioning her food choices as someone representing Indian culture in a foreign land. Now, actor, author and producer Kal Penn has come out in support of the actress.
Speaking with the Indian Express, Penn shared his thoughts on how Indians living abroad adapt to new cultures.
Kal Penn Backs Priyanka Chopra's Love For Hot Dogs
Kal admitted that he didn't know the exact thing that Priyanka said, but he used a personal story to explain why it's alright for Indians to like things from different cultures over their own.
Kal shared a moment when he was invited to MasterChef for charity. He recalled that in one of the pre-interviews, they asked him what his favourite food was. Without any hesitation, he told 'Tacos". 'They were disappointed, and then they asked me whether I could cook something like chicken tikka masala or something Indian. I told them straight away no," he said.
The 48-year-old actor-producer continued, 'They asked me, 'Do you not like Indian food?' I told them I loved Indian food, and I had even planned on cooking one of my mother's recipes on the show, but now I am not going to do it."
He was amazed by how people had this preconceived notion that he would love some Indian dish. Kal added, 'For me, it's just the silliness of the fact that are people not allowed to like other things? I think people just project their own likes and dislikes, so I just laugh it off."
Kal Penn Mentioned That He Finds Priyanka Chopra 'Authentic'
When asked if South Asian actors like Priyanka are under pressure to act or sound more American, he responded, 'I couldn't possibly weigh in on somebody else's experiences. I know and love Priyanka, and I find her to be completely authentic and wonderful, and unapologetically so, which is very refreshing."
How Did Priyanka Chopra's Vada Pav Row Start?
At the premiere of her film Heads of State, Priyanka took part in a fun 'This or That' rapid-fire round, where she was asked to pick between two popular dishes. First up, she had to choose between empanadas and samosas, Priyanka hesitated for a moment before saying, 'Depends on the mood." Next, between enchiladas and chicken tikka masala, she ended up picking 'both." The real surprise came when she picked hot dogs over vada pav. She said, 'I love a vada pav, but hot dog is my weakness."
A content creator shared the video on his account, questioning why she hesitated to choose samosas and vada pav. Addressing the unnecessary judgment, Priyanka shared a post, writing, 'Wow bro! Didn't know there was a syllabus for being desi. It's not that serious," along with laughing emojis.
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