The death of black man George Floyd in the US and the Black Lives Matter movement have sparked a heated debate in Indian media. Many even link the plight of African Americans to the discrimination suffered by Indian Muslims.

Many Bollywood stars have spoken out on social networks to express their support for the protests against racial inequality spreading across America. But expressing this opinion also faced a lot of criticism from Indian audiences in particular and Indian artists in general.

The controversy unintentionally showed a picture of Bollywood that was less brilliant and flashy than the stories on screen. It revealed a series of painful problems that still exist in the film capital of India, and within the society of the second most populous country in the world.

Artists are objected to when they include advertisements

Opponents pointed out that some beauties who support the racial equality movement are advertising skin-whitening products, or have remained silent about the plight of migrant minorities in India.

This list includes names such as Priyanka Chopra – who Forbes magazine called “the Bollywood star with the most successful career in Hollywood”, Sonam Kapoor – winner of India’s prestigious Filmfare Award this year. 2017 and Disha Patani – actress alongside Jackie Chan in the movie Kung Fu Yoga (2017)…

Sonam Kapoor is one of the celebrities criticized for claiming to support racial equality but promoting skin-lightening products.

Sonam Kapoor is one of the celebrities criticized for claiming to support racial equality but promoting skin-lightening products.

Artists are criticized for, on the one hand, supporting social equality and that all skin colors deserve respect, and on the other hand, still promoting products that change the natural skin color of their race.

In a 2017 interview with Vogue magazine , Priyanka Chopra, a former Miss World, said she regretted accepting commercials for skin-whitening products when she was young. The beauty also shared about her childhood when she was isolated by her friends because of her dark skin. But now, she is proud of her dark skin color.

Although the beauty has expressed a change of heart, the audience, and many of the star’s Indian colleagues, are still not ready to accept her voice. “Thank you for speaking up for the quality of life for black people. But first, maybe you should stop promoting skin whitening products” – a user commented under the actress’s post.

Indian celebrities are criticized for their “selective support” attitude.

Priyanka Chopra continues to be criticized after her husband, Nick Jonas of the once famous band The Jonas Brothers, posted an article expressing the couple’s commitment to fighting racism and anti-polar ideologies. group.

The post read: “My and Pri’s hearts are heavy right now… The situation of inequality in the US and around the world has reached an alarming level. Racism and anti-extremism have existed for too long in this society, and our silence not only makes it more deeply rooted, but also gives it more opportunities to develop”.

Amsi, a musician/singer of Indian origin living and working in the US, quickly opened the debate by pointing out that Chopra, affectionately called “Pri” in Jonas’s post, had never spoken up. about racism in India, especially against Indian Muslim women, the country’s largest religious minority.

Priyanka Chopra also received criticism for ignoring the painful problems of Indian society.

Priyanka Chopra also received criticism for ignoring the painful problems of Indian society.

Another recalled how Jonas and Chopra invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – whose government has been accused of failing to take action to prevent violence against Muslims – to their wedding. .

Bollywood actor and producer Abhay Deol expressed his views on the issue in an emotional post last Tuesday. The article posted on Instagram reads: “Now that ‘enlightened’ Indian celebrities and the middle class are expressing solidarity with people of color against racism in America, will they Would you mind taking a moment to take a look at what’s going on in your backyard?

“I’m not saying they deserve that consequence, but I want you to observe the whole picture. I’m saying let’s help them by talking about the problems of our own society, because sooner or later all of these separate problems will lead to the same outcome. I would say, learn from them, but don’t just repeat the same thing. Take action for your country, because of the obvious problems that lie within it. That is the meaning of the Black Lives Matter movement,” Abhay Deol added.

Light skin – a problem of Bollywood and Indian society

Abhay Deol also shared an analysis of the skin-whitening cream problem in India, highlighting the wording that cosmetic companies have used to advertise the skin-color-changing effects of their products. They bring, from “fairness” to skin whitening / whitening to white glow…

In Bollywood, many film critics have pointed to Indian film and television productions as responsible for the trend of discrimination against dark skin spreading in society.

Producers often tend to choose actors with light skin in their works. Over time, the coverage of light skin on screen has created in the minds of audiences a stereotype that dark skin is ugly, light skin is beautiful.

Along with that, the fact that cosmetic brands prefer the faces of actors and Bollywood stars to represent their skin whitening products has further contributed to the problem of considering light skin as beauty value. The only beauty in India became serious.