Images of a whitened Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on the cover of Elle India's December issue has caused quite a stir in Bollywood.
As reported earlier this week, the magazine embroiled itself in a race row by “bleaching” the Bollywood star to make her look several shades lighter for an anniversary issue.
Rai Bachchan, who has been preoccupied with her father's illness, was shocked when she was told about the editing, the Mumbai Mirror newspaper reported, quoting an anonymous source as saying: "Aishwarya's first reaction was disbelief."
The source reportedly said the former Miss World, an award-winning actress who has starred in international films such as "Bride & Prejudice" and "The Pink Panther 2", believed that these things don't happen anymore. "Not in this day and age when women are recognized for their merit, and not for the colour of their skin. She is currently verifying this skin-whitening allegation. If there is any proof of this, she might even take action."
Another source said, "She is clearly the global face of the contemporary Indian woman. The last thing she'd want is to have a global image coloured by a racial suggestion."
While this isn't the first time the magazine has come under fire for allegations of racism (its September issue similarly lightened up African American actress Gabourey Sidibe), Rai Bachchan's publicists, Imagesmiths, now say none of the actress's friends spoke to the journalist in question.
“We would like to put on record the article printed in Mumbai Mirror dated the 27th of Dec is in fact false (“Ash might sue for 'whiteface'”). The statement made therein by the author is self created and bears no representation to our client or the Bachchan family. Our client Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or the Bachchan family is not in any form of communication with the tabloid Mumbai Mirror and as such the story is an attempt to use their names to make news and a sensational article. We regret the same as such fictitious articles lead to rumour mongering.
"We would wish to clarify that Any Statement or Opinion that our client Aishwarya Rai Bachchan needs to give will be given via her spokesperson that is Imagesmiths.”
As an experienced model, however, Rai Bachchan should have signed a release form -- or was she complicit in the deception? We're waiting to hear from her spokespeople.
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