While many Indian stars are making their mark in global cinema, Hollywood mostly struggles to see beyond them as being "exotic." Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, and Dev Patel have spoken out-whether directly or indirectly-on being presented with or offered roles that feel more like cultural statements than creative opportunities. From the mandatory accent to the saree shot, Indian characters in Western media often exist to "represent," not just be.
The problem runs deeper than typecasting: it's indicative of the way Hollywood perceives people of color-as ambassadors of identity, rather than as individuals with stories that stand on their own.
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It's rare to find a Hollywood film featuring an Indian actor whose role doesn't reference their background. The cultural nods-a "spicy" personality, a mystical past, or a token Indian family scene-may seem harmless but subtly enforce the idea that brown actors can't exist outside their heritage.
While representation is important, there's a thin line between representation of culture and caricaturing it. All too often, Indian actors are reduced to familiar tropes rather than celebrated for their versatility.
Even as the world walks toward diversity, colourism calls the shots on casting. Darker skin is exoticised-exotic, "authentic", and "earthy"-whereas fairer Indian actors are "not brown enough". This fetishizes skin color as if it were a camera tool rather than a simple, organic characteristic. It's the paradox of representation that's performative, not inclusive.
No one expects a Scottish actor to wear a kilt in every movie or a French actor to hold a baguette on screen. Yet, Indian actors are rarely given the chance to exist without their ethnicity being highlighted. Whether through accent coaching or wardrobe cues, their "Indianness" is often written into the script-a creative choice that reveals Hollywood's limited imagination of what global truly means.
Representation isn't about just visibility; it's about complexity. Real inclusion would be when Indian actors can play roles that have nothing to do with where they come from, when a Dev Patel can play a romantic lead or Deepika Padukone can play a spy, without the plot needing to "explain" their background.
With Indian talent shining ever so brightly across borders, it is time for Hollywood to change too-from exotic fascination to authentic inclusion.
