<p>Imagine this — a brown-skinned girl is continuously rejected at corporate interviews. She is disheartened and her friend advises her to try a cream. She applies it and voila, bags a top job, after which she is seen confidently striding through a conference room. <br /><br /> Fairness products have been spreading such images for a long time now. The recent statement of Bollywood actor Abhay Deol telling other actors to stop promoting such products has brought this issue back to the limelight.<br /><br />When one’s favourite actor or sports star advocates a product, it is bound to leave an impression, says Sharmista B S, a homemaker and mother of five-year-old Arushi. <br /><br />She adds that comments on dark skin often lowers a persons self-esteem. “My daughter had such an experience at school. She came back home very upset. Added to that, commercials which show a person becoming more confident as he or she turns fairer, can affect a young mind deeply,” she says.<br /><br />Responsible advocacy of services or products, be it a fairness product or an edible item is a must, says Asmin Shamsuddin, a counsellor and mother of twins Asma and Aastha. <br /><br />“When a popular actor says that a ‘miracle cream’ could make one’s day better or solve their life problems, it leaves a deep impact,” she says. <br /><br />Being ambassadors for such products is a lifelong association and actors should think about it before committing to it, points out Asmin.<br /><br /> “Be it a prospective bride or a young professional, it’s the duty of the parents to make their children understand that being a good human has nothing to do with the colour of the skin.” <br /><br />There are actors who feel that it will take a long time to get rid of colour-based discrimination from the Indian psyche. <br /><br />Actor Suraj Gowda says that while using these products is one’s own choice, actors should stop endorsing such commercials or products.<br /><br /> “It’s funny how we are still struggling to go lighter on our skintone while tanning products are a big hit in the West. Such advertisements often act as platforms for budding artistes to get noticed, but high-profiled actors really don’t need these,” he says. <br /><br />About the decisions taken by actors like Kangana Ranaut who have opted away from such endorsements, he says, “These decisions will help in the long run.”<br /><br />There have been roles for which actor Samyukta Hornad was required to look fairer. <br />“I strongly dislike the whole idea of colour being connected with a certain section of the society. I don’t understand how someone from the lower section of the society has to be shown in a darker tone and a sought-after girl in college has to be fairer. This prejudice has to end!” she says. <br /><br />Having a lot of fan following comes with a set of responsibilities, she adds. “Everything one says or does is being watched. This notion of ‘fair is what one should aspire to be’ has to go.” <br /><br />As for fairness cream endorsements, Samyukta vouches to never do one. “I don’t use these products and I try my best to look as natural as possible on screen too these days. In today’s time, there are many lifestyle brands which are seeking dark-skinned models and this is a step forward,” she says. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Imagine this — a brown-skinned girl is continuously rejected at corporate interviews. She is disheartened and her friend advises her to try a cream. She applies it and voila, bags a top job, after which she is seen confidently striding through a conference room. <br /><br /> Fairness products have been spreading such images for a long time now. The recent statement of Bollywood actor Abhay Deol telling other actors to stop promoting such products has brought this issue back to the limelight.<br /><br />When one’s favourite actor or sports star advocates a product, it is bound to leave an impression, says Sharmista B S, a homemaker and mother of five-year-old Arushi. <br /><br />She adds that comments on dark skin often lowers a persons self-esteem. “My daughter had such an experience at school. She came back home very upset. Added to that, commercials which show a person becoming more confident as he or she turns fairer, can affect a young mind deeply,” she says.<br /><br />Responsible advocacy of services or products, be it a fairness product or an edible item is a must, says Asmin Shamsuddin, a counsellor and mother of twins Asma and Aastha. <br /><br />“When a popular actor says that a ‘miracle cream’ could make one’s day better or solve their life problems, it leaves a deep impact,” she says. <br /><br />Being ambassadors for such products is a lifelong association and actors should think about it before committing to it, points out Asmin.<br /><br /> “Be it a prospective bride or a young professional, it’s the duty of the parents to make their children understand that being a good human has nothing to do with the colour of the skin.” <br /><br />There are actors who feel that it will take a long time to get rid of colour-based discrimination from the Indian psyche. <br /><br />Actor Suraj Gowda says that while using these products is one’s own choice, actors should stop endorsing such commercials or products.<br /><br /> “It’s funny how we are still struggling to go lighter on our skintone while tanning products are a big hit in the West. Such advertisements often act as platforms for budding artistes to get noticed, but high-profiled actors really don’t need these,” he says. <br /><br />About the decisions taken by actors like Kangana Ranaut who have opted away from such endorsements, he says, “These decisions will help in the long run.”<br /><br />There have been roles for which actor Samyukta Hornad was required to look fairer. <br />“I strongly dislike the whole idea of colour being connected with a certain section of the society. I don’t understand how someone from the lower section of the society has to be shown in a darker tone and a sought-after girl in college has to be fairer. This prejudice has to end!” she says. <br /><br />Having a lot of fan following comes with a set of responsibilities, she adds. “Everything one says or does is being watched. This notion of ‘fair is what one should aspire to be’ has to go.” <br /><br />As for fairness cream endorsements, Samyukta vouches to never do one. “I don’t use these products and I try my best to look as natural as possible on screen too these days. In today’s time, there are many lifestyle brands which are seeking dark-skinned models and this is a step forward,” she says. <br /><br /></p>