I learned very early in my career that when I don't arrive on set, production will shut down, which means people won't get paid; there's that much responsibility.

I'm not American, but I do have an opinion, and I think that right now, it is what it is, and I think the country needs to come together to say: What is the America we want to create right now? The same thing will happen on television now going forward if we do have a female president. It will be something that will be discussed.

I live with romance in my brain. I'm a true-blue Cancerian like that.

When somebody else calls you exotic, exotic is a box - it's the stereotype of snake charmers and face jewelry. You're just that stereotype. But I don't get offended anymore. I used to get offended by things that were said to me, or how I was seen. Now I educate. If I get pissed off, I'll educate in a sassy way. Other times I educate in a Gandhi-like way. You know - I have my moods.

If more girls are educated, all of India stands to gain. The Girl Rising campaign aims to address that through various innovative initiatives that will not only help create awareness but also create a tangible platform to effect change.

I do hope having done what I did, and America having accepted me the way they did, opens the door for more global talent, which should have representation in global entertainment.

The harder [role] the better. Definitely. When somebody turns around and says, "She can't do that," then that's the one I want to do.