Dark is desirable!
Actor Parul Chauhan, the Ragini in 'Bidaai', is proud of her dusky beauty
MUMBAI: Parul Chauhan may be playing the dark-skinned and the not-so-favourite daughter Ragini in 'Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai…' but she refutes being as dark in real life. "I am definitely not this dark," she says adding, "I am made to look darker for the character."
Doesn't she mind being portrayed darker than she is? "Not at all. That's part of my role. I am being professional by following the character's requirements," she says. On telling her that the industry gossip suggests that Parul doesn't like being portrayed so, she clarifies, "Rajan sir (Shahi, producer) had told me about being portrayed this dusky at the beginning itself. If I wasn't comfortable with the idea, I wouldn't have taken up the role in the first place. Also, I am still relatively a new face in the industry. I can't have my way yet. I will be shown the door if I ask the show makers to project me as I am. After all this is the story of a dark girl. The plot will dissolve if I were shown to be fair."
"And the advantage of being shown dark is that the viewer sympathises with you for being the not-so-favourite. People on the sets also call me 'black beauty'. So what if they call me black as long as I am referred to as a beauty," she adds on a light note.
Talking about her personal life, Parul says that her not being fair has never come in the way of leading a normal life. "I am my father's pet. He insists on seeing my face first after he wakes up," she smiles. Quiz her if she feels that fair wins over dark and she replies, "I agree that people tend to have a soft corner for fair girls even if they are ill-mannered. Whereas, a well-mannered, courteous girl could be overshadowed by her dark skin. But the the trend is changing with Bipasha Basu's entry in Bollywood. Fair-skinned girls started going for the tanned look."
Parul is now getting several offers. "I can't take them up now. But I am enjoying my moment as the dark-skinned Ragini," she signs off.
p_sapana@dnaindia.net
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