No! This post is not about white actors in Bollywood. It is also not about those actors who became stereotyped and always played stock white characters (read Britishers) in Hindi Films, irrespective of their actual nationality.
Like Bob Christo! He was an Australian-Indian actor but as Indians call all white skinned people (Gore), Englishmen (Angrez), he always got to play the Gora Angrez. And mostly cast in negative roles. That's another stereotype. If he is white, he must be like our colonial master, without realizing that Australia itself was a colony. He did more than 200 films in India in multiple languages. I remember him for his roles in films like Mard and Mr. India. Watch the Bajrang Bali scene, the most famous scene of Bob Christo, from Mr. India and relive those moments. (Watch the clip from 5th minute onward.)
Like Bob Christo! He was an Australian-Indian actor but as Indians call all white skinned people (Gore), Englishmen (Angrez), he always got to play the Gora Angrez. And mostly cast in negative roles. That's another stereotype. If he is white, he must be like our colonial master, without realizing that Australia itself was a colony. He did more than 200 films in India in multiple languages. I remember him for his roles in films like Mard and Mr. India. Watch the Bajrang Bali scene, the most famous scene of Bob Christo, from Mr. India and relive those moments. (Watch the clip from 5th minute onward.)
Another actor, Tom Alter, was actually born and brought up in India. He was of American descent and not an Angrez. He knew Hindi and Urdu languages very well, but mostly we have seen him playing a British character or other white characters in Hindi films, spouting perfect Hindi in a fake accent, just like Christo. I think it was after the movie Lagaan, that film-makers started casting actual British actors for British roles. Though even today, the same set of white actors appear in roles of Britishers in all period films. I don't know much about him, but I recently saw the same actor (R Bhakti Klein, an American) in Manikarnika and Kesari, playing a Britisher.
But this post is not about the white actors or white characters in Hindi Films. This post is also not about director duo Abbas-Mustan, who always wear white clothes. It has become their signature, just like their films, full of unending twists.
This post is also not about white clothes that actors wear in Hindi films on certain occasions. I still remember that on the festival of Holi before we used to play with colors, we were instructed to wear old colored clothes so that we enjoy the festival without worrying about spoiling clothes. This is how common Indians look like while playing Holi.
But trust Hindi Films to white-wash the colors even on Holi. Watch this Holi song from the film Darr. The song really captures the spirit of the festival. But why the hell everyone is in white clothes! Is it a Surf Excel advertisement? Or had they planned a funeral and the dead body woke up and thus they went into Holi-mode?
That reminds me that when you attend a funeral and you are mourning, do you really remember what clothes to wear and what accessories to color coordinate it with? Then how is it possible, that all Bollywood funerals feel like a fashion show where Wendell Rodricks' Whites collection is on display!
But this post is not about the white clothes Bollywood actors wear for Holi or funerals! This post is also not about the cliched female ghost of Hindi films who moves around in the night suspiciously, holding a candle in her hands and singing melodious songs. And guess what she wears! A white sari!
Can you tell me what this post is all about, because my mind has gonewhite blank?
But this post is not about the white clothes Bollywood actors wear for Holi or funerals! This post is also not about the cliched female ghost of Hindi films who moves around in the night suspiciously, holding a candle in her hands and singing melodious songs. And guess what she wears! A white sari!
Can you tell me what this post is all about, because my mind has gone
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My theme for this year's #AtoZchallenge is Hindi Film Industry / Bollywood cliches. You can read the theme reveal post here.
2017 Challenge Post from Letter W: Wikipedia - A post about the role I play in my wife's life. Click here to read.
2018 Challenge Post from Letter W: WhatsApp Groups - Types and Management Techniques. Click here to read.
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