Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Internet voting pinatitigil sa SC

    April 4, 2025

    3 Pinoy ‘spy’ inaresto sa China

    April 4, 2025

    Pangulong Marcos, VP Sara trust ratings bumaba – SWS

    February 5, 2025
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Internet voting pinatitigil sa SC
    • 3 Pinoy ‘spy’ inaresto sa China
    • Pangulong Marcos, VP Sara trust ratings bumaba – SWS
    • Mercado bagong PhilHealth Presidente.; Nerez itinalagang PDEA chief
    • VP Sara: Halos 200 personnel, posibleng mawalan ng trabaho sa tapyas sa 2025 budget
    • Durian ng Pinas planong dalhin sa New Zealand
    • PhilHealth inalis na ‘single confinement policy’
    • Senator Imee kumalas sa admin senatorial ticket
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Starvision NewsStarvision News
    Subscribe
    Monday, June 2
    • HOME
    • WORLD
    • PHILIPPINES
    • BAHRAIN
    • GULF
    • Entertainment
    Starvision NewsStarvision News
    Home»WORLD»Bollywood faces flak for protesting racism while backing skin lightening
    WORLD

    Bollywood faces flak for protesting racism while backing skin lightening

    News DeskBy News DeskJune 7, 2020Updated:August 17, 20201 Comment3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Several Bollywood stars have been labelled “hypocrites” after speaking out against racism to lend support to global protests while promoting products in India designed to make people’s skin lighter.

    A series of A-list Bollywood actresses, including Priyanka Chopra, shared posts on social media to protest against the death of George Floyd who died in police custody after a white officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

    “End this race war here in the U.S., and around the world. Wherever you live, whatever your circumstances, NO ONE deserves to die, especially at the hands of another because of their skin color,” Chopra, 37, posted on Instagram. ⁣⁣⁣

    People were quick to call her out on social media for previously promoting an “intense fairness moisturiser”.

    They also pointed at her role in 2008 Hindi film “Fashion” in which she is ashamed of having sex with a black man.

    “Thanks for speaking out for black lives. But, maybe also stop supporting a skin bleaching cream which promotes anti-blackness,” one user replied to Chopra’s Instagram post.

    Chopra, a former Miss World who became a star in both Bollywood and Hollywood, has said in past interviews that she regretted endorsing such a product as a young actress and that she is proud of her dark skin.

    She was not immediately available to comment.

    Actresses Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani also faced criticism for their anti-racism social media posts while having featured in ads for skin fairness products.

    India’s multi billion-dollar skin lightening industry has a host of products appearing to offer dark-skinned Indians a lighter, fairer and better version of themselves, often endorsed by the Bollywood’s top actors.

    After years of criticism and campaigns against such products, many brands moved to calling them “skin brightening”, “whitening” or “lightening” creams and face washes.

    “Most brands no longer want to be associated directly with being termed as ‘fairness creams’,” said actor Abhay Deol, a vocal critic of fairness products and Bollywood’s support.

    Critics say the film industry helps feed India’s obsession with fair skin and bias against darker faces, with many pointing out it fails to represent the diversity of Indians.

    For example, actors from southern states where most people are darker-skinned are rarely in mainstream Bollywood films.

    Last year, the film “Bala” featured the story of a woman who suffered discrimination because of her complexion and actress Bhumi Pednekar had her skin darkened to play the role.

    Social media users also questioned why Bollywood continued to write lyrics and dialogues that equated fairness with beauty.

    Kangana Ranaut, a noted actress, spoke out against her Bollywood colleagues for promoting fairness products.

    “These people, especially Indian celebrities, the successful ones … have been endorsing all kinds of fairness products and today shamelessly they stand and say black lives matter – I mean how dare they?” she told the BBC in an interview last week.

    Indian-American comedian Hasan Minhaj took on Bollywood for the endorsements as well on his news-comedy programme “Patriot Act” on Netflix.

    Also Read:

    Global coronavirus cases near 7 million as outbreak grows in Brazil, India

    Protests worldwide embrace ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement

    G20 pledges over $21 billion to fight coronavirus

    Hamburg police use pepper spray as protests turn ugly

    Black Lives Matter (BLM) Entertainment
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    News Desk

    Related Posts

    3 Pinoy ‘spy’ inaresto sa China

    April 4, 2025

    7 Pinoy nahuli sa cyber scam sa Laos, nakauwi na

    August 24, 2024

    China, ginagalit ang mga Pinoy – Philippine Navy

    June 20, 2024
    View 1 Comment

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: AstraZeneca shares down 2% after report it approached Gilead over tie-up - Starvision News

    Editors Picks
    8.5

    Apple Planning Big Mac Redesign and Half-Sized Old Mac

    January 5, 2021

    Autonomous Driving Startup Attracts Chinese Investor

    January 5, 2021

    Onboard Cameras Allow Disabled Quadcopters to Fly

    January 5, 2021
    Top Reviews
    9.1

    Review: T-Mobile Winning 5G Race Around the World

    By cinideep
    8.9

    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Review: the New King of Android Phones

    By cinideep
    8.9

    Xiaomi Mi 10: New Variant with Snapdragon 870 Review

    By cinideep
    Advertisement
    Star Vision
    Starvision News
    Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter
    • Home
    © 2025 Star Vision. Designed by Star Vision Global.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.