No Surprise About Who Won the Best India Act Award at the MTV EMAs

Priyanka Chopra at the MTV Video Music Awards India in 2013. Photo: Courtesy of MTV India

One might just say Priyanka Chopra has it all. The actress and recent ”˜pop star’ not only made waves around the world with her recent American TV debut on thriller series Quantico, but has now also been judged the Best Indian Act.

It was enough to scratch your head about how the relevance of a Best India Act at the awards show with another continent in its name, but the awards category has been running for a few years now, past winners including Nagaland pop rock act Alobo Naga and the Band in 2012, beating out the likes of rock veterans Indus Creed. Sadly, Uday Benegal and co. had to stand aside to let Chopra take the award this year, as did fellow nominees such as electronica artist Your Chin, ska/reggae act The Ska Vengers and electro-pop singer Monica Dogra aka Shaa’ir.

Chopra, an artist signed to Universal Music India, now has the good fortune to be nominated in the Worldwide Act: Africa/India category at the EMAs, pitched against Tanzanian singer Diamond. Like the Best India Act category win, Chopra will turn to the massive fanbase she’s apparently garnered through all of two singles ”“ “In My City” and “Exotic” ”“ and a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”  When you’ve beaten the best and most experienced in the Indian alternative scene, it’s only fair that Chopra represents a country, while Diamond represents an entire continent. Good luck, PeeCee.

The 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards airs on Vh1 on October 26th at 9 pm.