Helllo Jee Actress Akshaya Shetty, 'I Was Sent Back From Auditions Because Of My Dusky Skin'- EXCLUSIVE
Akshaya Shetty will soon be seen in Ekta Kapoor's new web series, Helllo Jee. The actress speaks to us about the stigma of complexion in our society and how she had to fight through it
Ekta Kapoor recently introduced her viewers to the bindaas girls from her upcoming web series 'Helllo Jee'. Actress Akshaya Shetty who is going to play Sonal on the show had a candid conversation about her role and how her real life experiences of being dusky convinced her to take up this show. Read on;
Who are you playing in Helllo Jee?
I am playing the character of Sonal who is obsessed with fairness and is not confident about her looks as she is dark skinned. The only thing that matters to her and her world revolves around getting a fair skin.
Why did you choose the script?
The show at some point makes you realise how to own your insecurities irrespective of your colour, love yourself the way you are and that is something even I have realised in my life over a point of time and started believing in self love.This one thing was enough for me to be a part of this journey, for girls like sonal.
How much do you relate to the character?
Being in a country obsessed with fair skin, every inch of sonal and her insecurities are relatable to me. For example, I had beautiful curls, but wanted straight hair, I had clear, healthy flawless skin, but wanted fair skin. It took me many years to accept the way I am and start loving myself and now life is no more complicated. This is what I want to convey to all the girls like me and Sonal.
Were you easily accepted with this skin colour in the industry?
I have had multiple incidents where I have been called for an audition but as when they used to see my dusky skin, I was not even given an opportunity to at least audition for the role. I was just rejected, saying misfit. It's just that if it's upmarket then it's fair skin, if you are dusky then there is no requirement as such. At the initial level of audition there is a rejection. Mainly now the industry has opened to dusky and brown skin. But so far in 3 years, I have got 3 chances where someone was looking for a dusky skin girl, one of which is Hello Jee. Apart from that no such work came where people were looking for a dusky skin girl.
What does the name Helllo Jee signify?
The Title 'Helllo Jee' signifies the work of the characters of the show and about entering into a world full of confidence, freedom, glam, power, money and liberty to explore our desire.
How does the story justify the title of the show?
Every phone call starts with hello but what comes next is your individual conversation, similarly with Helllo Jee characters, everyone has their own persona and spice to add just like my life tagline- Variety is the spice of life.
Image source: Instagram/akshaya_shetty
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