Priyanka Chopra featured on the cover of the October edition of Condé Nast Traveller India wearing a white t-shirt with the words, "REFUGEE", "IMMIGRANT" and "OUTSIDER" crossed out in red -- leaving only the word "TRAVELLER".

This covered photo was tweeted by Condé Nast Traveller with the tagline "Bold and fearless, @priyankachopra makes a statement on our 6th anniversary issue cover. #WhyWeTravel"

Within a flash this message provoked the storm of criticism on Twitter where users started accusing Chopra of belittling the refugees forced to leave their homes. But according to this 34-year-old former Miss World the message was aimed at addressing racism and had been misunderstood.

"They (Condé Nast) specially got this (t-shirt) made and implored me to wear it. They said they were addressing xenophobia which is a big issue that is happening. So their idea was that. And I bought into it, I guess. And I am really, really apologetic about the fact that sentiments were hurt ... The point the magazine wanted to make was actually something good," she told NDTV in an interview.

"At Condé Nast Traveller, we believe that the opening up of borders and the breaking down of walls can help us discover the world, and open up our minds and hearts,' said the magazine."So, when we had actor Priyanka Chopra wear a t-shirt we created on the cover of the 6th anniversary issue, we had a point to make."

Some 1.3 million refugees and migrants fleeing war, poverty and persecution in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere arrived in Europe last year, creating the continent's biggest migrant crisis since World War Two. Without safe routes to seek sanctuary, thousands more have drowned at sea

Priyanka Chopra was named as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential people and is an ambassador for the U.N. children's agency UNICEF. She is starring in the TV series "Quantico" and in the upcoming film based on the "Baywatch" series.