The outcry over celebrities endorsing skin-fairness creams, known in India as the Snow White Syndrome, is growing.
The Dark is Beautiful campaign started by a Chennai-based group called Women of Worth, gained traction when actress Nandita Das joined it. Das has refused roles that require her to lighten her skin, and says the obsession with fair skin has robbed Indian men and women of their self-esteem.
With actor Hrithik Roshan joining superstar Shah Rukh Khan in endorsing Fair and Handsome fair-skin products, the group is pushing for the Advertising Standards Council of India to ban actors and public figures from endorsing advertisements that promote what it sees as colour bias.
Stars such as Kangana Ranaut, Randeep Hooda, Abhay Deol, Bipasha Bashu and Ranbir Kapoor have refused to endorse skin-fairness products.
“Ever since I was a kid, I have never understood the concept of fairness ... As a celebrity, what kind of an example would I be setting for younger people? As a public figure, I have responsibilities,” says Ranaut.
Some companies are showing greater social responsibility than many film stars. Last year, jewellery company Tanishq was applauded for using a dark-skinned female model, Priyanka Bose.
And a few weeks ago, actress Richa Chadha, whose film Masaan will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival this month, rejected an offer involving a huge amount of money to endorse a fairness cream.
artslife@thenational.ae
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Men’s singles
Group A: Son Wan-ho (Kor), Lee Chong Wei (Mas), Ng Long Angus (HK), Chen Long (Chn)
Group B: Kidambi Srikanth (Ind), Shi Yugi (Chn), Chou Tien Chen (Tpe), Viktor Axelsen (Den)
Women’s Singles
Group A: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), Pusarla Sindhu (Ind), Sayaka Sato (Jpn), He Bingjiao (Chn)
Group B: Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe), Sung Hi-hyun (Kor), Ratchanok Intanon (Tha), Chen Yufei (Chn)
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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