Veronica Chail is a media personality who hosts “Bollywood Boulevard,” a weekly South Asian entertainment show that airs in Canada on OMNI Television. In 2012, Ms. Chail was named “Person of the Year” on Anokhi magazine’s annual “Sexy & Successful” list. She was also named one of the 50 Most Beautiful Canadians by HELLO! Canada magazine. Ms. Chail spoke with The Wall Street Journal’s India Real Time about her upbringing, her career, and the growing global appetite for South Asian pop culture. Edited excerpts: The Wall Street Journal: You started off as a news reporter for OMNI Television, and later moved to more mainstream television as a producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. What inspired your move back to ‘Bollywood Boulevard’ and South Asian media?

Ms Chail: I wanted Bollywood content to be more accessible in Canada. I felt that because I’m part of a fusion generation I would relate to a large and diverse demographic that would include various ethnicities and not just South Asians. Following my gut instinct has never proven better because I feel like I have been able to bring Bollywood and Hollywood content together on the show. I have managed to carve a niche for myself in this business because of my experience in both industries. WSJ: Despite being the face of a South Asian entertainment show, you don’t have the typical South Asian identity. Tell me about it.

Ms. Chail: I was born and raised in Sweden. We traveled a lot and we later moved to Canada and settled in Stratford, Ontario. I loved being raised in a small city like Stratford which is known for its Shakespeare festival. There is a strong sense of community and everyone is so close that I never felt like I was an outsider because I was Indian. I didn’t know a word of English when we moved from Sweden to Canada. I actually thought we were on vacation, so when we arrived the transition was interesting and challenging because I only spoke Hindi, Punjabi and Swedish.