Katrina compares herself to Rahul Gandhi

In a recent interview to an Indian daily, Katrina Kaif lashes out at those who have made snide remarks about her passport, ethnicity and surname, ever since she joined the Hindi film industry.

Katrina was quoted by The Times of India as saying: "I am very proud of what I am and I just don't understand the confusion – as if I'm trying to hide the fact that my mother's British. Why would I?"

The actress went on to add: "Am I supposed to be ashamed that I am half Asian, half European? I mean, no! Rahul Gandhi is half Indian, half Italian. So?"

The Bollywood diva comes from mixed parentage. Her father is Indian and her mother British. Born in Hong Kong, Katrina was brought up by her mother in Britain.

She talked at length about her growing up years and said: "Growing up, I was very overly aware of the fact that I was Indian. I was darker, and all my friends use to be girls who were fairer and with blonde hair, and I used to feel very out of place. I was never really noticed –the girls with blonde hair and blue eyes got all the attention in school. I always grew up feeling inferior, to use one word."

"And when I came here is when I for the first time... I had that sense of – I remember that so vividly – that people here actually appreciate me. They think that I am beautiful, that I am something special. And that was the first time in my life that I did not feel inferior, for the first time in my life I felt very wanted."