Priyanka Chopra apologises for 'Quantico' episode

Actress Priyanka Chopra has apologised for an episode in her American TV series Quantico which portrayed Indian nationalists as terrorists who were trying to frame Pakistan in a terror plot.

In the episode, Priyank Chopra, who plays Alex Parrish, is an anti-terrorist officer who plots a nuclear attack in Manhattan to frame Pakistan for it, just days before an India-Pakistan summit is to be held. The episode drew intense criticism from Indian fans.

"I'm extremely saddened and sorry that some sentiments have been hurt by a recent episode of 'Quantico'. That was not and would never be my intention. I sincerely apologise. I'm a proud Indian and that will never change," Priyanka Chopra tweeted on Sunday. 

According to reports, the episode of Quantico titled "The Blood of Romeo", aired on June 1. Priyanka Chopra's character, FBI agent Alex Parrish, thwarts a terror plot just days before a summit between India and Pakistan is to be held.

During her investigations in the Quantico episode, Parrish finds a religious Hindu symbol—a Rudraksh chain—on the neck of one of the suspects leading Priyanka Chopra to conclude that the plot was devised by Indian nationalists to frame Pakistan in a nuclear terror attack.

The producers at the US network ABC Studios that airs Quantico also extended an apology on Saturday, saying they regret stepping into "a complex political issue", and they did not intend to offend anyone. 

The statement read: "ABC Studios and the executive producers of 'Quantico' would like to extend an apology to our audience who were offended by the most recent episode, 'The Blood of Romeo'. The episode has stirred a lot of emotion, much of which is unfairly aimed at Priyanka Chopra, who didn't create the show, nor does she write or direct it. "

"Priyanka Chopra has no involvement in the casting of Quantico or the storylines depicted in the series." 

They also stressed that Quantico is a work of fiction. 

"The show has featured antagonists of many different ethnicities and backgrounds but in this case, we inadvertently and regrettably stepped into a complex political issue. It was certainly not our intention to offend anyone," the statement read further.

Quantico will not be getting a fourth season. The third season of Quantico is on air in India on Star World. 

The cast of Quantico also included Jake McLaughlin, Johanna Braddy, Russell Tovey, Alan Powell, Marlee Matlin and Blair Underwood.