Made to Look Lighter: Sameera Reddy Exposes Bollywood’s Colour Bias

pradeep
2 hours ago
2 min read

Actor Sameera Reddy has opened up about the colour bias and restrictive beauty standards she faced during the early years of her film career.

Poster of Sameera Reddy with bold text about colour bias in her debut film, makeup shades and a clapperboard on black background

Speaking about her 2002 debut film Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, opposite Sohail Khan, Sameera revealed that she was made to wear foundation two to three shades lighter than her natural skin tone to fit the industry’s conventional image of a heroine.

“I Almost Looked Grey”

Sameera said full-body makeup was used to make the colour of her face and body appear uniform after lighter foundation was applied.

Recalling the experience, she said she “almost looked grey” and questioned who had the authority to define beauty through skin colour, body shape or weight.

Pressure to Fit an Artificial Image

The actor also spoke about the pressure to present an on-screen image that was very different from her real personality and beliefs.

She revealed that she was frequently made to use padded costumes, coloured contact lenses and other styling techniques to conform to the glamour standards imposed on female actors at the time.

Self-Acceptance Took Nearly Two Decades

Sameera said it took her nearly 20 years to overcome the insecurities created by these expectations.

She explained that she only began to fully accept herself in her 40s after years of struggling with body image, appearance and the gap between her public persona and personal identity.

Vocal Advocate for Body Positivity

In recent years, Sameera has become a prominent voice for body positivity, natural ageing and self-acceptance.

She has regularly discussed the pressures women face over skin tone, weight, pregnancy, motherhood and beauty standards, encouraging people to reject unrealistic expectations.