Although Aahana Kumra was pure in her intention, wanting to celebrate the cricketer Jhulan Goswami in her own way, it did not quite fit with the Netizens.
Indian Actor Aahana Kumra who has been part of some very notable movies and web shows decided to pay her tribute to Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami but things did not go as planned. The actor did a photoshoot for photographer Bhushan Kumar where she dressed up like the cricketer. While the wig and costume were fine, the actor went overboard and painted herself dark to look like the player.
Here's Aahana Kumra's post:
She captioned the post saying, "No I'm not promoting any film. This is purely a tribute to a woman I admire the most after spending time with her and learning her whole story about her journey, her hardships and her passion for the sport!." Although she received praise from the player, the internet did not take it quite well. People called her out for her "unnecessarily darker skin" describing his as atrocious.
The practice of 'brown face' in Bollywood is sadly considered acceptable and appreciated. Actors consider it to be part of being a method actor. But the whole practice is wrong on so many levels. For a country that has a population of dark skin, fairness brands have damaged the beauty of the skin tone enough. Even in the western, we have seen Prime Ministers being criticised for wearing dark skin as a costume in the past. And Bollywood, unfortunately still continues with the practice. Bhumi Padnekar's role in Ayushmann Khurrana's Bala is the most recent example of this atrocious practice. Although Aahana's intention was pure and not a part of any film her way of celebrating the cricketer, the execution was bad. And it did not quite fit with the Netizens. The actor had to turn off her comment section.
Check out what netizens had to say about that:
This post is still up. Gotta get this removed man. Wtf is this ?
— Ayesha Bashir (@ayeshabbash) March 22, 2021
no it's worse because she actually knows her...it's not just "i am a fan" bs its "i am a person who actually knows her yet I'll do it bcuz I'll get a friend pass" bs
— Areen (@datlilfunkNsoul) March 21, 2021
Oh man :/
— Aparna (@FuschiaScribe) March 21, 2021
@AahanaKumra madam please inform your makeup team. Your colourism is showing.
— shreya shetty (@shreyashetty8) March 22, 2021
Tribute can be given in many ways. I do understand fan going out of the way. This is a mixture of eew & creepy, my opinion, there are many other ways to express. Freedom of expression doesn't mean u have to accept everything expressed, self limitations is first. Opinion differ.
— Pranay Merchant (@PranayMerchant1) March 22, 2021
Jab jhulan goswami ko parwah nahi hai toh tum log kyu pareshan ho...
— Líebé (@Yami_Mahu) March 22, 2021
Did she actually paint her face like that? Wtf. Wtaf.
— Calmpanthi (@jomama_india) March 22, 2021
— 😌 (@rohitk_71) March 22, 2021
this the shit that gets people cancelled 4 years down the line
— SushiTrash (@yathaaaaansh) March 22, 2021
If she can keep her hair like the legend, it's the same with skin tone! Get over it.
— captain🇮🇳 (@Aviatorsapien) March 21, 2021