'I wasn’t milky white': How a director’s comment about skin colour cost Vaani Kapoor a movie role

Actor Vaani Kapoor, who entered Bollywood over a decade ago, recently spoke about the discrimination she faced early in her career. Despite having no film industry connections, she made her debut with Shuddh Desi Romance in 2013 and has since worked in several high-profile films. But her journey, as she revealed was marked by industry bias and judgment—not for her talent, but for her appearance.

Rejected for Not Being 'Milky White'

In a conversation with News18 Showsha, one of the most revealing moments Kapoor shared was being dropped from a film because of her skin tone. The decision came from a filmmaker who believed she wasn't “milky white” enough to suit the role. Though the comment didn’t come directly to her, she heard about it through others in the industry.

Rather than letting the remark affect her self-worth, Vaani decided to set her own standards. She recalled telling herself that if fairness was a criterion, she would rather not be part of such a project. She added that the filmmaker in question was not based in Mumbai and that the incident happened early in her career.

Constant Comments on Her Body

Even today, Vaani continues to face scrutiny—this time for her body type. She shared that she often hears comments suggesting she is too skinny and should gain weight, reflecting another persistent stereotype in the industry about the ideal female body type. Despite the remarks, she maintains a positive outlook, saying she feels fit and healthy, and doesn’t see any reason to change herself.

She admitted that while some comments might come across as advice or concern, she prefers to stay true to who she is rather than conform to external expectations.

Work That Speaks for Itself

Over the years, Vaani Kapoor has steadily built her filmography with roles in movies like Befikre, War, Bell Bottom, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Khel Khel Mein, and Raid 2. She is now preparing for her digital series debut with Mandala Murders, a Netflix crime thriller set in a mysterious town called Charandaspur.

The show, co-directed by Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat, follows detectives unraveling a series of ritualistic murders linked to a secret society. Kapoor plays Rea Thomas, a determined investigator. The series also stars Surveen Chawla, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Jameel Khan, and is scheduled to premiere on July 25.