While Rajkummar Rao maintains a neutral silence on Abhay Deol’s post against endorsing fairness creams by actors, he tells us of the time when as a struggling one, he turned down a role because of the fairness factor.
A director. When I was looking for work in Mumbai around seven years back, I used to look different from what I look today. I did an audition for a director who was making his debut film (I won’t name who he is). He really liked my test but told me, ‘Acting is fine, but I can’t give you a lead part because leading heroes are supposed to be fair and muscular. But do you want to play a small character in my film?’ I didn’t do his film because I couldn’t agree with his theory of filmmaking.
I didn’t feel discouraged because I knew it would happen. There are all kinds of people in the industry. I knew that I would find people who would match my sensibilities and would think of me as their leading actor. God’s been too kind because I have met some really amazing people here. But I’ll never endorse a fairness cream no matter how much money I am offered.
Once there was this guy who told me that my eye brows were not right. It was the most bizarre statement ever. I think my eyebrows are really nice. The same director then wanted to cast me in his next film post Shahid and Kai Po Che as his leading man, but I didn’t work with him.
I don’t know if now anybody cares about your complexion — especially, in the case of men — but I do know a couple of my female actress friends who have faced this complexion issue. I find this whole thing very stupid! I’m very proud of my skin colour.
Yes, if somebody writes an interesting story around it. I would love to be a part of it.