Priyanka Chopra, in a recent interview with Vogue India magazine, opened up about how she felt insecure about her looks, particularly because she was a dusky, gawky teenager. Her insecurities even made her try some of the products and took a step further when she featured in one of those skin-lightening commercials. Needless to say, she admits regretting it.
“A lot of girls with a darker skin hear things like, “Oh, poor thing, she’s dark.” In India they advertise skin-lightening creams: “Your skin’s gonna get lighter in a week.” I used it [when I was very young]. Then when I was an actor, around my early twenties, I did a commercial for a skin-lightening cream. I was playing that girl with insecurities. And when I saw it, I was like, “Oh sh*t. What did I do?” I started talking about being proud of the way I looked. I actually like my skin tone.”
At a time when people continue to be judged for their skin tone, Priyanka’s regret comes as no surprise especially considering how other celebrities have also disassociated themselves from endorsing such products in the past.
In April, Abhay Deol, in a series of posts on social media, put up screenshots of actors/actresses in fairness cream commercials.
Rajkummar Rao, too, asserted that he would never endorse a fairness cream thanks to the wrong notions about beauty they promote. Rao’s and Deol’s comments came on the heels of the racist attacks on Nigerians in New Delhi, and Tarun Vijay’s remarks on South Indians earlier this year.
Actress Yami Gautam, who is known for featuring in several ‘Fair And Lovely’ ads, around the same period, said that there was no harm in endorsing fairness creams.
In April, speaking to Hindustan Times, she said, “When we talk about individuality and choice, it’s my life, my decisions… why question my credibility? I am a self-made girl. I will not run my career on somebody else’s decision or ideology. I have my own mind.” She also added that not being fair isn’t an “upsetting thing”.
Incidentally, several ads of the brand she endorses, show a slightly dark-skinned girl upset with her complexion.
And while some actors condemn or even regret the use of such products, actors like Uday Chopra continue to insist that there’s nothing racist about fairness creams: “What is this nonsense with fairness creams. If fairness creams are racist then so is hair color. It’s a personal choice!” he said.
