Beauty is more than skin-deep; it is an inner attribute and it is eternal.
TEXT: NAMITA GUPTA
PHOTOGRAPHS: LUCKY MALHOTRA
We live in a country that’s obsessed with fair skin. While millions of people across the world, envy our brown skin and crave for it, we Indians are still basking in the so-called beauty associated with whiteness. It’s bizarre that even in today’s day and age, people are stereotyped based on their skin colour, not only in India, but across Asia and even Africa. #ItsNotFair, a concept close to fashion and lifestyle photographer Lucky Malhotra’s heart, is also something RITZ Magazine stands by with complete conviction.
So, what’s #ItsNotFair all about? “I have seen this discrimination happening around with women specially where they’re made to believe that being fair is of utmost importance. Once when my nine-year-old daughter wanted my permission to attend a birthday party of her classmate and could not recollect who it was by her name, she described her saying the one who is very fair. That line hit me and I asked her if she liked her own complexion? Although she said yes, I kept thinking about this for a while and soon started this campaign with the hashtag #ItsNotFair. Parents and the society are to be blamed as this thought creeps into a child’s mind because of them. If we are all encouraging in teaching our younger generation that taking care of one’s skin is more important than the colour of the complexion, I feel there would probably be no issues and it would help them grow up with confidence. Even the schools should take up this initiative, as I see lot of bullying happening around based on complexion. Even teachers should take this up and not favour students who are fair, giving them prominence in stage performances and breaking their confidence. Also, some North Indians discriminating South Indians is not fair. South Indians are blessed with great skin and they should be proud of it. Judging anyone based on their skin tone is demeaning. Even such matrimonial ads should be banned. Women are not commodities,” shares Lucky Malhotra, award-winning photographer, who has over 15 years of experience shooting for some of the top-notch brands, celebrities, campaigns, designers, hospitality, sports personalities, corporate heads and more.
Nicole Faria, entrepreneur, actress, Miss India and India’s first & only Miss Earth.
Your thoughts on being dusky in a country like India where people are obsessed with fair skin: I started modelling at the age of 13, I won Miss India at the age of 19 and then went on to creating history by winning India’s first and only Miss Earth crown in Vietnam in 2010. I stepped into the acting industry with my Bollywood debut Yaariyan, a T-Series production, starred as a special appearance in Katti Batti, did a European debut film – Bir Baba Hindu (Netflix), appeared in TV commercials, music videos, endorsed luxury, fashion and wellness brands, walked for top National and International designers, runways and Fashion Weeks, have been associated with many eco-friendly projects and received the first ladies award for my achievements by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. I run Morph, beauty, slimming and wellness centres in Bangalore and also conduct grooming workshops. I love my complexion! I’m ashamed to know people who believe “fair is beautiful and dusky is ugly”. But sadly, the Indian film industry has been obsessed with fair skin for a long time.
Concept of itsnotfair, what it means to you and how you took being dusky in your stride: I won three consecutive beauty pageants with this very complexion. In fact, I jump at any opportunity to bask in the sun and get my dosage of Vitamin D. I’m happy that we have like-minded individuals working together on #itsnotfair cause. Many girls feel suppressed by the close-minded opinions of others. A known Bollywood director once told me that I look too International and dusky for Indian cinema. I signed Yaariyan, Katti Baati and Bir Baba Hindu after his statement. I’d be lying if I said it’s not difficult for a dusky girl to bag a role in Indian cinema. Slowly, the Indian mindset is changing and our Indian shows on Netflix are a great example of how seeing dusky actors on screen is actually pretty refreshing. I love that the industry is now becoming open-minded and is now looking for talent above fairness. It gives aspiring actors a chance to showcase their true potential. Through my work at Morph I’m focusing on making any woman a winner irrespective of the colour of her skin.
