1 hour agoAuthor: Kiran Jain
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According to actress Ulka Gupta, she had to face many rejections due to her dark complexion. However, the actress never let her complexion come in the way of her talent. Ulka, who has worked in shows like 'Jhansi Ki Rani', 'Main Hoon Saath Tere', has told that even today her casting agent gets the demand for fair complexioned actresses.
Let us tell you, Ulka is not the first TV actor who has faced rejection due to her dark complexion. There have been many TV actors including Sumbul Tauqeer, Nia Sharma, Sehban Azim, Hina Khan who have been rejected many times due to their dark skin tone. Recently, reality show MTV Splitsvilla X5 contestant Khanak Vaghnani also became a victim of online trolling due to her dark skin tone.
During a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, these actors have shared their stories. Some had to face taunts in the beginning of their career, while some had to face pressure to look fair during shooting. Let's know what these actors said:
Many TV actors had to face rejection due to their dark complexion.
I was even removed from many projects because of my dark complexion: Ulka Gupta
I was exposed to this dark side of the glamour industry at a very young age. I was very fond of acting since childhood. Whenever I used to go for auditions with my father in childhood, people used to reject me seeing my dark complexion. There was open discrimination. Seeing this, I and my father used to feel very disappointed. I was also removed from many projects due to my dark complexion. At the same time, due to this complexion, I got the role of Saloni's daughter in 'Saath Phere'.
I never let my skin colour come in the way of my talent. I did some TV shows and then moved to the South film industry. There I found a new identity for myself. My confidence level had increased a lot. I wanted to make my mark with talent. I have done many Telugu, Marathi, Hindi and Bengali films till now. I have also worked a lot on television. I am proud that I was able to do this. Unfortunately, even today my casting agent gets demands for fair complexioned actresses.
Ulka Gupta played Ranveer Singh's sister in the film 'Simmba'.
People say how did such a dark girl get the lead role?: Sumbul Tauqeer Khan
The day I got my first TV show 'Imli', I was very happy. But after some time I started crying. Actually, instead of congratulating me, some people used to say that how did such a dark girl get the lead role? I found their words very insulting. I used to cry a lot. But gradually things started changing. The TRP of the show gave a befitting reply to these people. I got a lot of support and love from my fans.
By the way, since childhood I used to hear a lot of taunts about my skin tone. My initial phase was very difficult. As a child artist, whenever I used to go for auditions, I used to hear in response that they only wanted actors with fair skin. It used to hurt a lot to hear this. But now it is not like that at all. Color does not matter to me. Nothing is more important to me than talent now.
These days, Sumbul Tauqeer is seen in the TV show 'Kaavya: Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon'.
Family members used to ask that everyone is fair, how come you are dark?: Sehban Azim
Actually, before the industry, I had to answer for my dark complexion in my own family. My family members used to jokingly ask me that everyone is fair, how come you are dark? So the fight for this battle started from childhood itself. Whenever I went for an audition, there too there was discrimination on the basis of colour. But, I never gave up.
Initially, while shooting for some TV shows, the makers used to try to make me look fairer through makeup. I did not feel comfortable at all. There came a time when I started opposing this makeup. I had no fear of leaving the show midway. I just wanted to change this thinking and that happened with time.
Sehban Azim has worked in many TV shows including 'Dil Mil Gaye', 'Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai'.
I am very comfortable in my skin tone: Nia Sharma
I have said earlier that I have never thought of becoming fair till date and neither have I taken advice from any doctor to become fair. People may call me a dusky or brown skin actress but I am very comfortable with my skin tone.
Actress Nia Sharma is playing the role of a witch in the serial 'Suhagan Chudail'.
Compared to others, my skin is a little darker: Khanak Vaghnani
I was aware that I could get trolled for any reason during or after doing a reality show. But I never thought that people could say so much bad things about my dark skin. I became a victim of online trolling. Compared to others, my skin is a little darker. But I have no problem with it. I am keeping myself a little calm in this situation. However, it will take some time to get out of this.
Recently, Khanak Vaghnani was seen in the Sunny Leone hosted show 'MTV Splitsvilla X5'.
I didn't get roles because I had a dark complexion: Hina Khan
In an interview, Hina Khan said- I am a Kashmiri and could speak Kashmiri very well but I was not cast for this role because my complexion was dark. I am not very fair. This was what was required for the team and the character. I felt very bad.
Hina Khan started her career with the serial Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. In this, her character's name was Akshara.
When you know the language very well and you can play the character very well and you don't get the role just because you look Kashmiri. I never lost hope and never gave up. I always kept trying.
