Jamie Lever, daughter of ace Bollywood actor Johnny Lever, recently opened up about the brutal trolling and colourism she has faced throughout her life. Despite being a star kid, Jamie has had to face numerous challenges growing up due to her dark skin colour and facial features that don’t necessarily fit the so-called beauty standards. Her raw account highlights the deeply ingrained biases that continue to plague Indian society and the entertainment industry.
Jamie Lever recalls being called a witch and receiving death wishes for her appearance
In an honest conversation with Hauterrfly’s The Male Feminist, Jamie got candid about the bullying she has faced since her childhood days. Jamie didn’t hold back as she recalled the vicious comments she receives almost daily, given her dark skin and a face that doesn’t fit the orthodox beauty standards. The comedian shared how she has been called names all her life, and some even wished her to die because of her appearance. Jamie recalled:
“I get so many comments. Kaali hai, chudail lagti hai, chudail jaise hasti hai, badsoorat hai, tujhe kaam nahi milega, tu marr kyu nahi jaati, aisi shakal hai tumhaari, isiliye tumko industry mein koi kaam nahi de raha, aisi shakal waali ladkiyon ko filmein nahi milti… I have received such messages all my life.”
Jamie Lever highlights the issues of colourism and unrealistic beauty standards
Despite being the daughter of a comedy legend, Jamie’s journey hasn’t been easy. She admitted to being constantly judged not just for her work, but for her skin tone and body shape. Jamie shared how growing up, she was advised to become fair, highlighting the deep-rooted colourism in Indian culture. Highlighting the illusion of ‘perfection’ that people keep on chasing, Jamie remarked:
“Fair skin ka obsession hai na apne desh mein. Colourism is such a huge issue here. And I have seen that growing up, ki mujhe bola jaata tha ki bhai ubtan lagao, haldi ghiso chehre pe, gori ho jao. Toh, that colourism is a major problem. In fact, I am writing something on this subject… bhai aisa toh hai nahi ki aap t-shirt utaarenge aur aapki lines nahi hongi. Koi human body hai. Ab insaan aisa hi dikhta hai. Koi perfect nahi hai yaar.”
Jamie recalls her family asking her to cover her curves
The trolling didn’t stop at complexion or facial features. In the same conversation, Jamie revealed she was also body-shamed for being curvy and having a pear-shaped figure, which made her feel insecure and created body image issues. It took years of unlearning for Jamie to finally embrace her natural body. She shared:
“People would look and call me names. Even my family asked me to cover my posterior because I have a bigger hip. I have a pear-shaped body, so what do I do about it? I actually would wear only long kurtas and dresses to keep my lower body covered, and it is only much later in life that I learnt how to own my body and my curves.”
About Jamie Lever
Despite the hate, Jamie Lever has carved a niche for herself as one of India’s most loved comic performers. She frequently posts hilarious skits and impersonations that go viral in minutes. After her acting debut in Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, Jamie was seen in films like Housefull 4, Bhoot Police, and Crakk.
As Jamie continues to embrace her true self, her raw account also questions the unrealistic beauty standards that continue to affect millions of lives in this age of social media. What is your take on this matter?
Read Next: Aryan Khan’s ‘The BA***DS Of Bollywood’ Gets Rave Reviews, Netflix CEO Says, ‘People Know Nothing..’