Bollywood celebs who refused to endorse fairness creams and stood up against racism

Kangana Ranaut

There had been reports that actress Kangana Ranaut had turned down an offer worth Rs 2 crore as it needed her to endorse a fairness cream. She had said, "Ever since I was a kid, I have never understood the concept of fairness. Especially, in such a case, as a celebrity, what kind of an example would I be setting for younger people? I have no regrets about turning this offer down. As a public figure, I have responsibilities."

Ranbir Kapoor

Actor Ranbir Kapoor has stood up against racism and stated that he would not be interested in promoting fairness ads as he is of the opinion that such products only give rise to racist stereotypes. In the year 2011, he had refused to endorse a fairness cream for the same reason.

Anushka Sharma

In 2015, actress Anushka Sharma clearly made her stance evident on not promoting fairness creams. She had said, "I would not endorse products that propagate racist and sexist (beliefs)... and propagate social taboo. I don’t want to endorse products that propagate fair skin and all. I will not propagate anything that says this is right or wrong."

Swara Bhaskar

In the year 2015, actress Swara Bhaskar was approached by a fairness cream brand, but the actress refused the offer in spite of the lucrative money being offered to her. She said, "This fair skin obsession has to be discouraged. It’s so regressive and problematic to put a value, negative or positive to skin colour. It’s actually the seeds of racism and it only promotes low self-esteem. For me, I believe in loving yourself just the way you are. Dusky, dark or wheatish, you are perfect, all I want to tell the girls is don’t change."

Kalki Koechlin

Actress Kalki Koechlin had opened up on people's obsession with fairness creams in an online discussion on International Women’s Day. She had said, "I don’t think there is anything wrong with being fair, but it has become such an obsession in our country that it is all we look for in beauty. There are so many stunning people who are dark-skinned and it should be celebrated. I would love to have a product that makes me darker. I endorse an anti-ageing cream because I do feel I have to take better care of my skin with age, but I am clear that fairness is not something I promote with them. In fact, I would love to endorse a cream which makes me darker, I am always trying to get a tan."

Nandita Das

Actress Nandita Das has always spoken up on social issues and the topic of racism is something she strongly opposes. In her blog, 'When Fair is Lovely', she wrote, "I am shocked to see the rise in the number of fairness creams, dark actresses looking paler and paler with every film and magazines, hoardings, films and advertisements showing only fair women." In fact, she has even promoted a campaign against people's obsession for fairness called as 'Dark Is Beautiful'.

Randeep Hooda

Actor Randeep Hooda is against the concept of promoting fairness ads. He had said earlier, "It's a colonial hangover to be fair. India, as a country, has an obsession with fairness, whereas the entire world is lying under the sun and getting a tan. I think men should be tall, dark and handsome and not tall, fair and handsome."

Upen Patel

Actor Upen Patel had refused an offer from a fairness cream company and he had opened up on the same with a daily. He said, "This fair skin obsession has to be discouraged. It's so regressive to put a value, negative or positive, to skin colour. Things like these are actually seeds of racism and they only promote low self-esteem. I believe in loving yourself just the way you are; dark, dusky or wheatish - you're perfect."