Twitter users in Pakistan are offended that Priyanka Chopra described filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, who will be directing the new Star Wars film, as 'South Asian' instead of 'Pakistani'.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is a Pakistani-Canadian journalist and filmmaker who has worked on several award-winning films and documentaries like Saving Face, Song of Lahore, and A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness. She has won two Academy Awards and seven Emmy Awards. She recently directed two episodes of Ms Marvel and has been chosen to direct the untitled film set in the Star Wars universe.
After the Star Wars project was announced, Priyanka Chopra took to Instagram to congratulate Obaid Chinoy. She wrote, "First person of colour and the first woman to direct a Star Wars film… And she's South Asian!! What a historic moment Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. So so proud of you my friend. May the force be with you!"
Many Pakistanis have taken offence that Priyanka did not specify the filmmaker's nationality and put her under the umbrella term "South Asian".
Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui tweeted in response, "With due respect, Priyanka Chopra, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani first just to brush up your knowledge. Much like the way you flaunt your Indian nationality whenever you get the opportunity before claiming to be a South Asian."
Several other popular personalities from Pakistan agreed with the actor. Writer Faisal Kapadia wrote: "Sharmeen is a Pakistani and she should be called that." Journalist Anis Farooqui also agreed.
Filmmaker Shahnawaz Zali, on the other hand, defended Priyanka and wrote, "Nothing wrong being called a South Asian (which we are and proud). Maybe you should just appreciate things when they are said rather than always and consistently trying to find flaws in it."
Priyanka and Sharmeen haven't responded to the controversy. However, the filmmaker has referred to herself as South Asian. In March, she posted a photo from Priyanka's pre-Oscars event and wrote: "It was an emotional night for many of us in LA...In 2012 when I was at the Oscar's there were Three South Asians! A decade later over a 100 of us came together to celebrate South Asians in cinema...and amongst us were so many Pakistanis...I watched Saim get up on stage and make a speech about Joyland- Malala spoke about her support for cinema & Ali Sethi brought the house down with Pasoori...And I will proudly say that as the only South Asian woman with two Academy Awards there was so much love for that achievement! This is our time & we have arrived!"