“I like winning,” Priyanka Chopra says about becoming Miss World at 18. She sounds like an Indian Donald Trump, but with eyelids that work, nearly 5 million more Twitter followers, and slightly better hair.
Now Chopra is preparing to dominate season two of her first U.S. TV show, ABC's Quantico, about FBI trainees who all seem to have at least one plot-upending secret. The twists serve an important function: giving Chopra the chance to show off her range of surprised faces. Her character went outside to get reception on a phone call with a terrorist, and her friend got blown up? Shocked and devastated! The recruit she's in love with is married? Shocked and angry! But the marriage is just part of his cover? Shocked and secretly relieved! “They're called ‘act enders.’ I'm really good at them,” she says, correctly.
Thanks to her work in Bollywood, she's also good at dancing and singing, which, based on Indian movies I've seen on mute in artsy bars, is important. When asked whether Quantico or next summer's movie remake of Baywatch (her role: “billionaire bombshell”) has a cast more likely to break out in Bollywood-style song, she says, “Baywatch, for sure. I mean, they're already running in slow motion. They're going to dance.”
Although Chopra has a 22-person entourage, there is one thing she has to do on her own: find an apartment. She's doing it right now, while we're on the phone. This is the 20th she's looked at, and she really likes it. Chopra claims I'm her lucky charm. I feel like her 23rd assistant. This definitely deserves a dance.