‘Aap naukrani ke role ke liye aaye ho?’: 'Yeh Hai Mohabbatein' actor Gulki Joshi on facing rejections due to skin colour

Gulki Joshi, who plays a cop on the TV drama ‘Madame Sir’, has claimed that she has been turned down in the past due to her skin colour. She also said in an interview that she was questioned if she had come for auditions for "naukrani ka part (a house help's role)."

Gulki Joshi told ETimes that she was going through the typical difficulty of being rejected from several auditions and having to make ends meet on a tight budget. She went on to say that her additional hardship was related to her skin colour at a time when TV shows were racially charged. “would look for gori-chitti (fair) lead heroines”. She said that she finally got through because she has the talent. “There have been times when I have been told, ‘You don’t match so much look wise, but you are a good performer so we will cast you’. I don’t know if it was a compliment or an insult but it has happened,” the actor said.

“There have been times when I would go for an audition for the lead role and the casting director would ask me, “Achha, aap naukrani ke role ke liye aaye ho? (Are you here for the maid’s role?)” I would explain to them that I have come to meet a certain person for the lead role. I can’t even blame anyone. This has been the industry standard since ages. After a point when you grow up in life, everyone has their own journey in life. It depends on you, what you learn and how you grow.”

In 2011, Gulki made her acting debut in an episode of ‘Crime Patrol’. Soon after, she was cast as Sugni in ‘Phir Subha Hogi’. She has appeared in a number of television shows, including ‘Nadaan Parindey Ghar Aaja’, ‘Yeh Hai Mohabbatein’, and ‘Laal Ishq’.