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Indians want to be White:Freida Pinto
Here is an excerpt from her Interview in Popular british newspaper Independent where she talks about India's Fair Skin Obsession and struggles faced by dark skinned women in indian modeling industry/bollywood: At college in her mid-teens, Pinto had realised that theatre and literature were her "calling". To earn some money, she began modelling. The well-mannered, inquisitive youngster found it easy working with photographers, but it was far from satisfying. Nor was the advertising work which followed. "There were some very silly, stupid auditions that I had to go for. Like, there's this girl who walks into college and nobody's paying any attention to her because she is not using this particular cream – some kind of moisturiser or fairness cream, which I'm completely against. Then she'd put on the cream and all the boys would turn to her. And, I was like, 'Arrgh, this is so bloody cheesy!' If I ever got shortlisted for any of those parts I'd feel this sudden burden: 'Oh my God, if I do this, they'll pay me and I'll earn my pocket money – but then it's gonna be history.' Some of my ads are now on YouTube and it's just so embarrassing." Embarrassing, yes, but she can laugh about them. "There is a silly Wrigley chewing-gum ad you should check out. It's so stupid. This guy pops a gum in his mouth and I fall from a tree on to his bike! Then he's got a girl!" Pinto cracks up with laughter at the memory. "So from doing cheesy stuff like that to doing something as fulfilling as Miral – I think I've come a long way." She has, but Pinto can't, and won't, forget where she has come from. She despairs at the popularity of those "fairness creams" in Southeast Asia – bleaching potions to lighten the skin. "It's completely wrong medically – and culturally, of course, because it's giving people the wrong idea. My friend who's a doctor told me that she'd have parents come in with kids who were three years old, saying, 'Do something – I want my baby to be fair.' "It's just this thing that people [in India] are so fascinated by white skin. There's a lot of people there who are naturally really pale. But the whole idea that you have to be fair – without naming actors, but there are actors who admit it – the fairer you are, the easier it is." Even within Bollywood? "Oh yeah, absolutely. The amount of pancake cream on your face is ridiculous. I don't think it is required, by the way. If a cream can give you confidence then you really have to check your whole confidence department in the first place." But Pinto herself is a bright beacon for Indian actors. Slumdog Millionaire showed that European and American audiences could be receptive to non-Western stories. And with her nonstop career since, this proudly Indian actress has succeeded in Hollywood without having to compromise by changing her looks or the way she speaks. "Yeah," she nods, "but it's so funny. I feel like this whole idea of wanting something that you don't really have is also very American in a way. They love tanning! Why the hell are you tanning that much? Then in my country people want a fairer skin tone! It's just crazy. "So when I was that Indian export that went to America and people were wanting that natural tan – which I don't really have to go through tanning [to acquire] – they were excited to include something in their culture, into their film industry, that was not really there already. Or not properly or appropriately represented. So I just feel that this was a change. Check out this fairness cream advert PS: To read her full interview check out the link below
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If I were darker, I'd have loved it. Dark is sexy. Those who are naturally dark need to feel lucky, not unfortunate.
Being a middle-eastern with pale complexion, She is so right about this issue! But again, if she was an indian actress, she will be first one using bleaching cream to compete. My indian friends are so obsessed with being white that they told me that they want to be exactly like Katrina Kaif! I told them she is horrible as an actress, they told me they do not care as long she looks good and white on screen. I mentioned other actresses like Kareena, Priety, Ash etc but they said Preity and Kareena have indian accent which they do not like. I was horrified because I thought bollywood produces indian films representing india with its language, songs and actors, but they said it does not matter to them!
They like Aish because she has 'blue eyes' which they envy but do not care for her indian background! I was so stunned that they think this way, and told them no wonder England had them bondage for ages!
What I can say, Arabic films represent its language, actors and culture! Its SO WRONG for INDIANS to degrade and disgrace their culture and people that represents every shades or colors!
The most beautiful women are always dark in my opinion. Fair skinned women age quicker as well. Too bad politics come to play when defining beauty. Be proud of who you are!!! Why do you think white people are always tanning themselves?
She is right, being light is seen as being beautiful not just in southasia but all over Asia. However, I feel she is using this issue to promote herself. She sounds almost arrogant, like she knows better and making fun of the ads..... Not cool. Let's she how long she lasts in Hollywood.
As if Freida doesn't coat her face with makeup to look fair.
Very easy to make fun of your country when you are abroad...shows how cheap she is.
Sorry, but thats the bitter truth or why are in more indian movies white russian7olish etc dancers???
And in the western world everyone trys to be dark skinned.
The point is she makes is true and we Indians do need to stop being embarrassed of our skin color. But its easy to preach to others, how self-aware and culturally proud is Frieda when she goes off talking with that fake British accent?
aishwarya rai is not fair or white, see her baby pics and her pics on guzarish sets
Oh! She is so right. I remember seeing Veer Zaara and thinking why the hell Yash Chopra did not select Rani for the role of Zara seeing that she was the better actress then it stuck me it was because she was not as fair as Preity and Indians love their heroines all fair and lovely. That is why dusky actresses need to be really talented to survive whereas if you are fair well that's it.
Its time filmamkers have the guts to acknowledge that fact that both fair and dusky are beautiful and that even dusky heroines can play the damsel in distress roles equally well.
ok seriously she just hurting the reputations of indians...stupiddddddddddddddddddddddd much!
wow she sure doesn't know how to represent indian beauty thus making us look bad
Well this is the sad fact in India. And this is the reason why talentless Katrina kaif is still thriving in the film industry. Because she is fair and nothing else.
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I AGREE WITH THE KATRINA COMMENT
BUT STILL STUPID PINTO SHOULDNT BE MAKING INDIANS LOOK BAD... JUST BECAUSE SHE IS IN HOLLYWOOD AND THINKS SHE IS ALLLLL THAT AND LIKE SHE IS BETTER OR SOMETHING!!!
hear hear!
This is not the first time this Freida woman is insulting India and trying to sound more oh-so-liberal European than actual Europeans. Self hater par excellence....typical of her ilk
so? who is freida? she had a blink and miss role in slumdog. overhyped and overrated woman.
SHE'S SPEAKING THE TRUTH. DAMN I GUESS IT'S A BIG PILL TO SWALLOW WHEN HEARING/READING THE TRUTH.
i soo agree with her.......she is ma fave now..she way betta den katrina!!
well...thats why kat is no.1 ""actress"" today...just bcoz shes half british and white...but..there r many creams like "tan" but the ad is not racist like indians r ! im nor from india or paki but seriously SHAME ON INDIA !
I admire this about her, she is right skin-color can't really help determine beauty
I BLAME ASH B BECAUSE SHE IS FAKE, FLOP AND ALWAYS PUTS WHITE CREAM TO LOOK WHITE!!! MEANWHILE, FRIEDA AND MALIAKA WHO ARE SO FAMOUS IN HOLLYWOOD ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR SKINS AND DON'T PUT ANY WHITE CREAMS!!!
It is true but truth hurts :p
HOW STUPID!!..she is one in an interview who said "i want to be based in new york, coz thats where i can think"""..uff!! drama...
well what she said is true. but i love indian ads though, except for fair and lovely ones.
why is it insulting when someone is saying the truth about their own country? ughhhh. it is true. desis are obsessed with white skin color. they all scream at the slight tan. i face it every time i go a shade dark coz i went out in the sun for 10 mins. so imagine if you have dark skin color.
And Frieda Pinto needs to stop insulting her own country and people. I guess she saying what she knows Hollywood and Americans want to hear.
this is why pple are obsessed with aish. Indians you need to start appreciating what God gave you are accept it. i hope the likes of pinto try to change that.
I am so glad Freida is talking about it. I hope she addresses this issue more. She has the platform to do so. This will inspire all those Indian girls to like who they are and shame those top stars into not doing the fairness cream endorsements.
I'm glad Aishwarya Rai stood upto it and said NO to endorsing fairness creams.
I hope she becomes very successful. You do not see many Indian actors make it big in Hollywood.
She is saying the truth, just being honest. More people should address this subject, and more celebrities should be openly against fairness creams.