- By Srishti Pandey
- Sat, 15 Mar 2025 10:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bigg Boss 18 fame Chum Darang recently shared her struggles as an actor from the Northeast trying to make it in Bollywood. Known for her roles in films like Badhaai Do and Gangubai Kathiawadi, Chum revealed the harsh reality of battling discrimination and limited opportunities in the industry.
In an interview with BBC India, Chum spoke candidly about her journey, starting from her move to Mumbai in 2018. Like many aspiring actors, she arrived with dreams of landing meaningful roles. However, she soon faced racism and stereotyping — both on and off the screen.
She recalled an incident from her early days when a group of boys at a mall mocked her with names like “momo” and “chow chow” because of her appearance. “I didn’t know how to react. I just gave them a look and walked away,” she shared. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened things, with people hurling racist remarks and blaming her for the virus. “We are Indians too. We might look different, but we belong here just as much as anyone else,” Chum said.
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Despite proving her talent, Chum pointed out how Bollywood still fails to offer substantial roles to actors from the Northeast. “Roles for us are still not written properly. There are very few opportunities, and landing a lead role is extremely tough,” she explained.
One of the toughest decisions she made was accepting a stereotypical role in Paatal Lok, where she played a Chinese infomercial girl. Chum admitted she took the role out of financial necessity. “I needed money to survive in Mumbai. It was hard, but I had no other choice at the time. Later, I realized that I am meant for bigger things,” she said.
Chum acknowledged that while Bollywood is slowly becoming more inclusive, there’s still a long journey ahead. She hopes filmmakers start writing meaningful, well-rounded roles for actors from diverse backgrounds, including those from the Northeast. “We are surviving, but we need better representation. The industry needs to open up to talent beyond stereotypes,” she emphasized.