Zarnish Khan speaks up against colourism

Actor Zarnish Khan, known for her roles in television series such as Ishq Zahe Naseeb, recently took to Instagram to call out a troll attacking the actor for her skin colour. The user commented on one of her pictures in which the actor can be seen in a white kurta on white trousers, with the user saying, “Nice white and white with brown legs,” followed by laughing emojis.

Khan replied to the troll saying, “Brown hona guna hai? Jo hein woh na jiyain? Mar jain woh?? (Is being brown a sin? Should brown people not live? Should they die?) Grow up people!! Stop being so superficial and shallow. Peace.” 

The Jo Tu Chaahay actor isn’t the first to face issues related to colourism. Actor Amna Ilyas in an interview with Voice of America, shared how it all started from her own home. "As a child, I was told a few things about my complexion, such as by my mother and aunt, who made me realise very early on that my deep complexion 'would not suit me well when I grow up’," she shared.

The Baaji actor went on to add, "As a child, you may not understand the meaning of these words but when you are conscious, you understand the psychology behind these thoughts. When I realised this, I stood up against it." Ilyas divulged on the discrimination we see in everyday dramas, where women of fair complexion are given priority over the dark ones. "(This happens) so we can say that our people also want to see only those girls on the screen who are fair coloured," she explained.