Global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas recently spoke about India’s cultural diversity and how Indians are often perceived globally during a conversation on “The Joe Rogan Experience” hosted by Joe Rogan.
During the wide-ranging discussion, Chopra described India as one of the most diverse societies in the world, shaped by centuries of migration and cultural exchange.
“India is like hyper diverse because of how many people have kind of made it their roots,” she said, explaining how different communities and influences have contributed to the country’s social fabric.
She added that this layered history makes it difficult to define a single “Indian identity” or appearance.
“Like an Indian face does not look like a particular person or the amount of cultures, the languages we have written and spoken languages which are almost like 20-some or in their 30s,” she said.
Chopra also spoke about the country’s linguistic diversity, noting that even Indians sometimes struggle to understand languages spoken in other regions.
“We have written and spoken languages which are almost 20-30 — absolutely different alphabets, absolutely different sounds. I can’t. If I go to another state, I won’t be able to understand what people are saying. It’s amazing!” she said.
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At that point, Rogan asked, “How many languages are spoken there?”
Chopra replied, “About 28-30. But there are dialects. There are hundreds. Don’t even get into the dialects. I just speak English and Hindi, can understand a little bit of Punjabi and Marathi, but it’s really amazing.”
Chopra also reflected on how this complexity is sometimes misunderstood in Western entertainment. She recalled an audition early in her international career where she was asked to appear “more Indian,” something she said left her confused.
“I was told in an audition I think we needed the character to be a little bit more Indian and I just like didn’t even understand why there’s so many versions of that,” she said.
According to Chopra, actors of Indian nationals in English language productions were often expected to fit narrow stereotypes.
The conversation also touched on colonial history and discrimination. Chopra noted that prejudice against Indians existed not too long ago.
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“You think about just within the last century there were signs which said Indians and dogs not allowed in India by the British,” she said.
She also spoke about the Indian diaspora and how communities in different parts of the world, including the Caribbean, were shaped during the colonial era.
While reflecting on India’s history, she made it clear that she does not consider herself a historian. However, she said the country’s past has always fascinated her. “I love culture, and especially the culture of India. You will see that my grandmother was Catholic,” she shared.
She went on to describe India as “one of the oldest civilizations in the world,” adding that discussions around its history and diversity continue to spark conversations among users on social media.
Chopra, who has built a successful career in both Bollywood and Hollywood, has often spoken about breaking stereotypes and expanding opportunities for South Asian actors in global entertainment.