Actress-singer Priyanka Chopra has been voted Best India Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) 2015 after beating Monica Dogra, Indus Creed, The Ska Vengers and Your Chin, who were also nominated in the same category.
The pop/EDM singer is now pitted against Best Africa Act Diamond Platinumz in the Best Worldwide Act: Africa/India Act category. Fans will now vote their favorite in the category on the MTV website and choose the final winner.
An Indian artiste has never won in this category before (though Yo Yo Honey Singh was nominated twice), and if Priyanka snatches this win, it will be a first for the country.
Priyanka released her first single “In My City” feat. will.i.am in 2012, which sold more than 130,000 copies in its first week, topped the Hindi pop chart and was certified triple platinum. The song was also the theme of NFL’s Sunday night football in 2012-13 seasons. The singer received three nominations – Best Female Artist, Best Song and Best Video – for “In My City” at the World Music Awards in 2012.
In 2013, she followed it up with “Exotic” feat. Pitbull, which has over 73 million views on Youtube to date. “Exotic” debuted at number 16 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs and number 11 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart in 27 July 2013 issue.
She then went on to do an EDM cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” She also collaborated with The Chainsmokers for their EDM track “Erase.” This year, the “Quantico” star collaborated with N.A.S.A on the world music track “Meltdown,” where she sang English and Punjabi vocals. The song was released online last month and has received positive reviews.
EMA winners will be announced Oct. 25, during an event in Milan. There will be six Worldwide Act winners, each representing a different portion of the planet: Africa/India, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, and North America