Priyanka Chopra, looking stunning in a Zard Affar black flared gown with high slit and halter neck, took the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with a skill born of long practice last night. The actress, there for the premiere of her Sikkimese film Pahuna – The Little Visitors, joined her hands in her iconic “Namaste” much to the shutterbugs’ delight. The audience spiced up Priyanka’s red carpet moment by bursting into an impromptu version of her hit Desi Girl number from her 2008 romantic comedy Dostana.

Later Priyanka, in a lively chat with TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey, recounted her meteoric journey across Bollywood and Hollywood. It was her film Fashion through which she marked a revolution for women in India, the actress said. “Fashion gave women the power to talk about different facets of their lives. I became a pioneer for women of my generation,” she revealed, adding, “the film had many things that a female character wouldn’t do (in Bollywood) like drinking and smoking.” But Priyanka also accepted that she lost many films probably for standing her ground and not agreeing with people.

However, she said that when the opportunity to work in American came her way, she saw it as an opportunity to break the ceiling for actors that looked like me. She added that she learned that her role in the terrorism TV serial Quantico was not written for an Indian girl. “But my casting as Alex gave another layer to the show,” she added. “Give me something difficult and I will always say yes.”

Apropos Pahuna – The Little Visitors, this is the first Sikkimese film ever being made. It is also the fourth regional film from by Priyanka’s production company Purple Pebble Films. She was accompanied by her mother, Dr. Madhu Chopra, who is a partner in the production company, for the premiere at TIFF.