Priyanka's Assam calendar controversy: Assamese celebrities come in support of actor

Mumbai: Priyanka Chopra, who is the brand ambassador for Assam Tourism, has landed in a controversy for a recently launched calendar featuring her, with the issue getting discussed in the state assembly. Members of the Congress party have stated that Priyanka is seen wearing ‘minimal clothes’ and hence brought a bad name to culture of Assam and want her removed as the brand ambassador.

Congress MLAs Nandita Das and Rupjyoti Kurmi raised the issue in the State Assembly saying that her outfit was not appropriate. Kurmi had said, “The government should preserve the respect of the Assamese society. Frock is not an Assamese attire and the calendar pictures were not sober at all. The government should have known how to preserve the prestige of the Assamese society; instead, they could have used the traditional mekhela sador. This is the reason we have protested against the calendar. There are a lot of talented Assamese actors, the government should look into this and accordingly appoint one.”

However, the chairman of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation, Jayanta Malla Baruah comes in support of Global star by saying, “Priyanka Chopra is an international figure and her presentation in the calendar has not diminished Assam’s culture in any way.”

 Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who is an actress in popular TV show, expressed her disappointment over criticism meted out to Priyanka. She said, “I don’t want to start a blame game. Being an actress, I know we don’t always get to decide what to wear during promotions. It is also decided by the creative team. So, it is really not happening to target somebody. Rest, I would not like to involve myself into.”

The leading Assamese actress Parineeta Borthakur also talked in support of 'Bajirao Mastani' star. She said, “I don’t think the image is disrespectful. She is wearing the Jaapi (traditional Assamese conical hat), which is symbolic to Assamese culture. If she wore nothing that represented Assam, it would be senseless. Moreover, there is no extra show of cleavage. It is a normal dress. Even girls in Assam wear such stuff. This is my personal view.”

This is not the first time the actress is facing censure for her clothes. She was trolled for wearing a dress in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that showed off her legs. Priyanka was recently dragged to the Nirav Modi fraud courtesy an advertisement she shot for his brand few months ago, and the actress seems to have become controversy's favourite child.