Priyanka Chopra, an acclaimed global icon, has successfully navigated the realms of both her personal and professional life. Emerging as Miss India World, she made a striking entry into Bollywood with her debut in “Andaaz.” Over the years, Priyanka has openly discussed her initial challenges in the industry. She particularly mentioned the rejection due to her darker skin tone. Despite these early setbacks, she carved a significant niche in the entertainment world.
In the early stages of her career, Priyanka Chopra was seen endorsing products that promoted skin fairness. This aspect of her career came into the spotlight again through a resurfaced interview on Reddit. In the clip, she addressed the topic of colourism in advertising.
Priyanka’s Fairness Cream Endorsements
In this interview, the actress was questioned about her participation in a Ponds advertisement with Saif Ali Khan. In the conversation, Priyanka presented a different perspective. She emphasized that, unlike other fairness ads, this particular commercial did not promise a change in skin colour. Instead, it focused on enhancing skin glow.
This interview sparked a debate on Reddit, with several users pointing out contradictions in Priyanka’s stance. The discussion brought attention to the controversial nature of the ad, which some users felt perpetuated harmful stereotypes about skin colour.
Priyanka’s Change of Heart
Priyanka Chopra has since expressed remorse over her involvement in fairness cream commercials. In her memoir, “Unfinished,” she reflects on her insecurities about her skin tone and the use of talcum powder to appear lighter. During a podcast with Dax Shepherd, she candidly discussed the damaging impact of these ads. She recounted an ad where her character’s life dramatically improves after using a fairness cream, highlighting the problematic messaging of such commercials.
Furthermore, Priyanka recalled instances in her acting career where her skin was lightened for roles. She specifically mentioned a song from the movie “Kismat,” where her character was portrayed as much lighter than her natural skin tone, exemplifying the pervasive colourism in the industry. This reflection marks a significant shift in her understanding and approach to the complex issue of skin colour biases in the entertainment world.
