Bollywood celebrities have often spoken about colorism and shadeism that exists within the industry. In fact, actor Abhay Deol had even slammed actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone for endorsing fairness creams in the past as such products promote an unhealthy standard of beauty. Model Padma Lakshmi had also taken to social media and said such items give rise to discrimination against people with darker skin tones.
Speaking of which, Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter, Suhana Khan, recently opened up about receiving hate due to her skin color since she was 12. Sharing screenshots of messages and comments criticizing her complexion, Suhana said how a few people always called her skin tone ‘too dark’. She explained how people call her ‘kaali chudail’ and how it’s not a positive connotation at all.
She wrote,
“Here’s a lot going on right now and this is one of the issues we need to fix!! this isn’t just about me, it’s about every young girl/boy who has grown up feeling inferior for absolutely no reason. Here are just a few of the comments made about my appearance. I’ve been told I’m ugly because of my skin tone, by full-grown men and women, since I was 12 years old.”
“Other than the fact that these are actual adults, what’s sad is that we are all Indian, which automatically makes us brown – yes we come in different shades but no matter how much you try to distance yourself from the melanin, you just can’t. Hating on your own people just means that you are painfully insecure.”
“I’m sorry if social media, Indian matchmaking or even your own families have convinced you, that if you’re not 5″7 and fair you’re not beautiful. I hope it helps to know that I’m 5″3 and brown and I am extremely happy about it and you should be too.”
However, Suhana’s message about the need to end colorism was questioned by many online. Pointing out the irony, people said that her own father, Shah Rukh Khan has promoted fairness creams in the past.
I agree with #SuhanaKhan
But phle India ke logo ke soch badalne se phle apne pitashree (Father) ki soch badalne ki jrurt hai jine lakho youth follow krte
& He is shamelessly Promoting fairness cream #SRK #EndOfColourism pic.twitter.com/O6Oh74KATm— ishu (@ishu35169176) September 30, 2020
#SuhanaKhan you should be penning a note to your own father Shah rukh Khan to #EndOfColourism ! He is the one promoting skin whiteners for money! Colour prejudiced was created by the likes of your father in the industry! pic.twitter.com/vO8xygzoC5
— JIX5A જીક્સા (@JIX5A) September 29, 2020
Sister , Don't preach on insta cause your father endorses Fairness cream . Level of hypocrisy 💯 #Suhanakhan pic.twitter.com/D97oa0rf42
— TàNåYā || 🍁🔱Justice For SSR❤️🔱|| (@Its_TanayaR) September 30, 2020
#Suhanakhan is talking about #endingcolourism but for that you need to embrace your own skin tone first, and from what I see she is just another celebrity who is trying really hard to be fair n babe let's not forget about your dad endorsing fairness creams his whole ass life pic.twitter.com/X2ioB99QaA
— afshan (@dark_shade00) September 30, 2020
Waked Up With news that #Suhanakhan is talking about #endingcolourism and I support her bcz it's need of hour But
-Why #ShahRukhKhan is Promoting Fairness cream Fair and Handsome?
-On what basis She got Blue tick on IG?I Think Nepotism topic is on Roll so it's just a Trick! pic.twitter.com/HZEcy7PowU
— Piyush (@BadasssPiyush) September 30, 2020
#SuhanaKhan
SRK promotes Fair& Handsome and There family giving lecture on Natural tones or Inner beauty. pic.twitter.com/nkczyZhgss— Aman™❌ (@Rana_Rajput8) September 30, 2020
In an earlier interview about his stance on fairness creams, SRK had said he doesn’t use the cream personally and doesn’t ‘believe in the idea of selling beauty’.
Well, several celebrities including Masaba & Bipasha Basu, have publically spoken about racial discrimination and how it affects their self-esteem. And, while it’s a welcoming move that skin-lightening products are trying to be more accountable for their lack of inclusivity; is it really enough?
It’s high time that public figures along with the people of the nation stop stigmatizing people with darker skin tones. What do you think? Tell us!