We Are Fixated By White Skin In India

'Not just women, but even men are judged by the colour of their skin and have to fight prejudice every day.'

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Whether or not Renuka Shahane will enter politics, she's certainly inspirational as the sweetly smiling, grass-root politician who tries to break the glass ceiling and keep Dhadakpur crime-free for a bigger goal in Amazon Prime Video's OTT series Dupahiya. She's got other aces up her sleeves but she's taking her time. "I'm a little slow when it comes to writing. I have a lot of family responsibilities that I have to attend to with the children growing up, so writing takes a backseat."

After watching Dupahiya one wishes you would do more work.

I am, actually. Dupahiya was shot around August to October 2023. I did other projects which should come out soon so people will see me more frequently now. There's a film called Chakda Xpress that I'm really looking forward to. It's a beautiful character with a very different look. The film is a biographical sports drama, a genre I'm not associated with. It's not a very big role, but it's important to the narrative. I really enjoyed working with Anushka Sharma and our director, Prosit Roy.

Since Dupahiya started streaming, any reactions in particular from women in small towns and villages like Dhadakpur on any of the issues it raised?

I think what has really hit home is the issue of colourism which was highlighted through Pushplata's daughter. Nirmal is a very intelligent girl who encourages everybody to do something beyond their capability. Yet, she herself is struggling with an inferiority complex. In a country like India where we are still fixated on white skin, not just women, but even men are judged by the colour of their skin and have to fight prejudice every day. In the circumstances, for a mother to tell her daughter that she does not need any kind of skin treatment and that if someone rejected her for her dusky complexion, then they have a black heart, is pretty awesome. That has touched a lot of hearts.