After nepotism debate, Bollywood faces criticism over colour discrimination

Over the weekend, at the IIFA awards in New Jersey, director Karan Johar and actors Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan took a jibe at Kangana Ranaut's nepotism remarks, and revisited the controversy again. In February, Ranaut had called Johar a 'flagbearer of nepotism' on his popular chat show Koffee with Karan.

"You are here because of your Papa," Saif Ali Khan said. To which Varun Dhawan responded, "And you're here because of your mummy." Karan Johar added, "I am here because of my Papa." The trio then said in unison: "Nepotism rocks." A barrage of social media criticism followed.

Close on the heels of this debate, comes Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's recent tweet which points a finger at the discrimination in Bollywood over skin colour. “Thank you for making me realise that I cannot be paired along with the fair and handsome because I am dark and not good looking. But I never focus on that,” tweeted Siddiqui on Monday night.

However, it is not evident at whom the tweet is directed. According to reports, it could be a response to Sanjay Chouhan, casting director of Siddiqui-starrer Babumoshai Bandookbaaz. Chouhan has sparked off a new controversy with his comments during an interview with an English daily. “Keeping Nawaz in mind, all other characters were taken on board. We can't cast fair and handsome people with Nawaz. It would look so weird. You have to take people with distinct features and personalities when pairing them with him.,” he said in the interview.

Siddiqui, who had no major film names to back him, has fought his way to great heights in the industry. With his tweet, many on social media have come out in support for him.