Pallavi Sharda has come a long way after being crowned Miss India Australia in 2010, and going on to pick up roles in Bollywood as well as Hollywood over the next eight years.
Her filmography includes Bollywood films like Begum Jaan, Besharam and Hawaizaada, as well as Walkaway and Save Your Legs.
Speaking to SBS Punjabi from USA, where she is shooting a pilot for an American television series, Pallavi said, "I'm thrilled to be nominated for the Logies this year. I won the Rising Star award from the Casting Guild last year, but it's wonderful to get this recognition for my work on Australian television too."
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Punjabi roots
Pallavi said, "My grandparents are Punjabi - my Dadaji was from Gurdaspur and my Dadiji was born in Hoshiarpur. I was born in Perth, grew up Melbourne, and then went to Mumbai - so my language is a little mixed. But I do speak some Punjabi - in fact I honed it while filming Begum Jaan last year, when Ayushman Khurana taught me typical Punjabi words and I was able to pull off the role of a female Punjabi sex worker of the mid 20th century."
"I'd love to act in a Punjabi film in the future - looks like a lot of fun."
Work on Australian television
"When I was offered Pulse last year, it was very important for me to be part of that show because I believed for a long time that diversity in Australian media is something I had to be part of in terms of pioneering - having women and men of colour and of Indian background on Australian screen."
"I think this is the start of something new that we don't have to feel like the 'other', or that we're only a part of a community - we are mainstream Australians and I'm lucky that I've been part of so many different cultural festivals like Moomba and White Night.
"People know me as Australia's Bollywood actor, so said, I have to be part of something that would promote people that look like me on screen for the future."
About the Logies nomination
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"Its an honour to be in that list - we've watched the Logies growing up in Australia and I always used to think 'I wish I could also work on Australian television.'
"Actually, I've been to Drama School in Australia itself and basically I was told it'll be very difficult for me to find work on Australian screens because I have an Indian background. And this is a real moment for me to say 'Actually no! Times are changing and I'm a part of that change'."
Click on the link above to hear our full interview with Pallavi Sharda.
The current round of voting for the Logies will finish on March 31, after which the short-list will be announced. To participate in the voting, click .
In the meantime, Pallavi has sent a special video message for the Punjabi community of Australia:
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