Sanjivni 2 Actress Chandni Bhagwanani Faces Racism In Australia: 'The Driver Told Me To Get Off The Bus Before My Destination'- EXCLUSIVE
Chandni Bhagwanani, who has been staying in Australia since the lockdown was announced in March, became a victim of a racism incident recently. We spoke to her about the same
Where the whole world is raising voice against racism and appealing to put an end to it, TV actress Chandni Bhagwanani has become a victim of it in Australia. The actress, who played Dr.Asha Kanwar in Sanjivni 2, went for a professional project to Australia in March and got stranded there amidst the pandemic crisis.
It's been 5 months that Chandni is in Australia. She keeps posting her pictures and videos on social media to keep her fans updated about whatever she is up to. But a recent video by her, where Chandni talks about facing racism, has got her well-wishers concerned.
After Chandni's post we reached out to her to learn if she is fine.
"I am ok. The moment I got down from the bus I googled my destination where I had to go was just four and half minutes away. So, I walked till the station and when I was standing there I saw the same bus crossing. It means he was taking me in the right direction but he decided to avoid any conversation with me and made me get down minutes before."
#racism #notcool #ptv #Melbourne smallest act of racism is as serious as another major act of racism pic.twitter.com/aysID8Wg9r
— Chandni Bhagwanani (@chandnib21) July 9, 2020
Chandni added her stay there from the last many months has never given her such a sad experience. "It's been almost 5 months that I am in Australia and I had never experienced anything like this. This behaviour was extremely weird. Even though it was small, it shook me completely. But this doesn't mean that I want to come back or I don't like this country. Whichever country or city you travel among 10, you get to see 1 person like this, who doesn't speak to you respectfully. But just because of him I would not like to blame this country or the city I am staying in. Because other than him, everybody has been really nice to me. I have come across very nice people. Only this one incident in these 5 months irritated me a little."
The video on Twitter was a 2 and half minute selfie video where Chandni said, "I am making this video to tell you all one small racism incident that happened with me. I was supposed to go to a certain destination but there was no direct train. So, I had to get down at a certain station and get a replacement bus. This was for the first time I was travelling in a replacement vehicle. So, I asked the driver if we are going to go to this destination and he didn't reply. I thought he didn't hear me, so never mind I went and sat switching on my google map and I was trying to locate things. We missed one right turn, two right turns and then a third right turn. So, I again went to him and asked, Are we going to this destination? This where we are supposed to go and you are not going that way. Is there any nearest stop I can get down at? He didn't reply and got busy on his phone then somebody else went to him and asked the same question and surprisingly he pleasantly replied, 'Yes ma'am' and that person was not Indian.
Then after sometime another person went and asked about their respective stops and he replied to them also. So, I thought he is free now, so he may answer me too. When I went and asked him he didn't reply and started looking outside the window and it really shook me. I couldn't believe that racism still existed and it was humiliating. So, I asked him what is the matter and why is he not replying to me. Where are we going? So he yelled at me, stopped the bus in between and he said, 'Get out.' I was shocked. "You get out of here f..... Indian's," were his words. I wish I would have the courage to take out my phone and shoot the incident. But honestly, when that was happening, I was shaken and didn't know how to react. That person was so strong that I didn't understand what to do? This is really sad that racism still exists."
Image Source:- instagram /chandnibhagwanani, twitter/chandnib21
Image Source:- instagram /chandnibhagwanani, twitter/chandnib21
