While debates around racism in Bollywood have persisted over the years, the industry has also been graced by several dusky beauties like Kajol, Priyanka Chopra, Smita Patil, Sameera Reddy, and Bipasha Basu. Each of them has challenged stereotypes and redefined conventional standards of beauty, proving that talent and charisma go far beyond skin tone.
Smita Jaykar's First Shocking Meeting with Priyanka Chopra
In an old interview with Filmymantra Media, veteran actress Smita Jaykar opened up about her initial impression of Priyanka Chopra and how completely it changed over time. Jaykar, known for her work in Hindi and Marathi cinema, worked with Priyanka in the 2004 film Kismat. She recalled, "I did one of Priyanka's initial films with her, 'Kismat'. She was very thin, skinny, and dark. She was introduced to me and Mohan Joshi as our daughter in the film. When I saw her, I said, 'Oh my God.' At that point, she looked like nothing. I wondered how these people become heroines."
Smita Jaykar's Changed Perception for Priyanka Chopra
However, Priyanka soon proved her wrong in the most remarkable way. "Cut to, Priyanka Chopra was wow. I thought, what has this girl gone and done? She became a complete diva. So you can't judge somebody and say, 'Yaar, yeh kisko leke aaye ho.' You never know when someone's destiny will change. What an actress, fab!" Jaykar added.
Priyanka Chopra on Facing Colourism and Body Shaming
On the other hand, Priyanka Chopra herself has often spoken about facing colourism and body shaming in her early years. In an interview with BBC, she shared, "I was called 'black cat', 'dusky'. I mean, what does 'dusky' even mean in a country where we are literally all brown? I thought I was not pretty enough. I believed I would have to work a lot harder, even though I felt I was perhaps more talented than some of my lighter-skinned peers. But I accepted it because it was so normalised."
This story serves as a powerful reminder that initial judgments can be misleading and that true talent and determination can overcome societal biases. Priyanka Chopra's journey from being dismissed as "nothing" to becoming a global icon is an inspiration to many.
