#The Indian film industry in general is so colorist and racist

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Avantika Says Bridgerton Stars Charithra Chandran & Simone Ashley Made Her Feel “Seen”

The star opened up about Bollywood versus Hollywood and colorism in a new interview.

Avantika was asked about colorism within the Indian film industry and admitted that while it “is primarily one of the biggest reasons why” she’s “definitely always felt uglier in India” than in the U.S., seeing other actors with similar backgrounds, like Chandran and Ashley, achieving international success gave her the push to never settle for less.

“I’m South Indian, and there’s this perception that North Indian women are more beautiful than South Indian women,” Avantika explained. “And the South Indian women who do reach insane levels of success in India are very light-skinned—some have become lighter skinned. So seeing myself represented in Bridgerton season 2’s Charithra Chandran and Simone Ashley—beautiful, dusky skinned women—South Indian women— in Hollywood has made me so, so happy.”

“I have definitely found that the odds are a bit less stacked against me here [in the U.S.] than they are there [in India] because I can’t change my skin color,” she continued. “But I can convince people that I’m talented and that I deserve an opportunity or that I have a voice that needs to be heard.”