Obsessed with fair skin? Actors say skin bias still exists in the film industry and it’ll take time to change the mindset

Even after two weeks since a leading brands decided to drop the words ‘fairness’, ‘whitening’ and ‘lightening’ from their range of beauty products, the debate around colour bias and the obsession with fair skin refuses to die down. While many are hopeful that an evolution is underway, Bollywood actors feel it’s still a long road ahead especially when it comes to getting roles in films and casting someone basis their skin colour. Richa Chadha agrees that one gets called ‘unconventional, dusky, sexy’, but she’s quick to add, “Only once I was rejected for a role because the director insisted on having a ‘fair and homely’ actress. About a decade ago, when I’d audition for ads, we were told very categorically that the skin care ads would only go to foreign models because they’re fair.” While both Richa Chadha hopes that actors no long face discrimination based on skin colour, Tannishtha Chatterjee says the change will take time to happen. So,it’ll definitely take another two- three generations for this change to happen.” Chatterjee further points that the reason actors are cast in a certain way, “is because the audiences’ mindset needs to be catered to.