Discrimination on the basis of skin tone is not uncommon in India. Having said that, mindsets are changing and so is the discourse around colourism. There have been positive changes like the India’s got colour campaign and the backlash over brown facing in Bollywood.
According to News18, Sara Ali Khan was recently asked a question about the same at a ‘We the Women’ event in Bangalore. The ‘A Spark called Sara’ segment had Barkha Dutt in conversation with the actor.
"The multicultural background I come from has made me more tolerant and diverse" Sara Ali Khan @WeTheWomenAsia #WeTheWomen pic.twitter.com/JEKCDJX3Po
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 3, 2019
Towards the end, an audience member asked Sara if she ever fantasized about being tanned and she replied,
“If you wanna be tan, just put some on some bronzer, and if you wanna be fair, put on some powder. It’s not the end of the world, and it shouldn’t define you at all.”
But when counter-questioned that there is deep-rooted pressure in India regarding skin colour she added,
“There is a higher probability and success rate for you to attempt to change yourself, than the world, because they are not going to change.”
While her ending statement received applause from the audience, Twitter was not impressed with how she dismissed societal pressure surrounding the issue. Also, her take on using makeup to alter one’s complexion was called out as being problematic.
What she meant is you gotta love the way you are, you can't go and dictate everyone that love me the way I am. If u don't love yourself how come expecting people to love you (in this case your color skin). It's just that society needs to appreciate the inclusitivity in whole.tnx
— saurav parmar (@saurav55615561) November 8, 2019
They first have to acknowledge that putting white powder on your face as a coloured skin person is everything wrong, twisted and unconsciously deeply rooted in our culture for them to see what's wrong in that interview!
— Eris (@ErisofC) November 6, 2019
I also wanna point out that the blunt way in which she replied to Barkha's pertinent question about skin colour. It's not all 'in the head'. There are real people out there who get discriminated. Not everyone is born with oodles of 'confidence'. https://t.co/zicuveUJoO
— . (@exultantdreamer) November 6, 2019
When even Ivy League cannot burst the bubble of Bollywood 🤦♀ https://t.co/zicuveD80e
— . (@exultantdreamer) November 6, 2019
wait a second. let me process this. https://t.co/jGvo5NEZKI
— Ash⁷ (@bangtanchai_) November 6, 2019
Sara’s advice on being confident in one’s own skin rather than trying to change people’s views is valid. But isn’t talking about using makeup to look fairer or darker counteractive?