Despite his noteworthy versatility in roles, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has often opened up about facing racism in Bollywood. The actor, who has been a part of the film industry for over 20 years, even revealed getting rejected from projects because of his complexion.

In a recent interview, he got candid about staying confident amid the beauty standards and discrimination in Bollywood. Nawazuddin also mentioned that he has never found anyone more beautiful than the late actress, Smita Patil.

The actor's comments reflect how inherent colourism has been in Bollywood, with lighter skin often equated with a higher social status. Despite the parallel cinema movement bringing about a change in the 1970s and 1980s, where actors like Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi emerged as the icons, the leads in mainstream cinema have largely remained fair-skinned, with a few exceptions, such as Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin.

During a conversation with 'Zoom', the actor admitted experiencing racism and elaborated on how the industry has still embraced him. He agreed that it's not nepotism but racism that has a bigger impact in the Hindi film industry. "As the saying goes, when you eliminate a cockroach, people commend you for it. But when you eliminate a butterfly, they question your actions. This selectivity exists. Just as there is a lot of selectivity in discrimination, it is present in many areas. I believe that you shouldn't dictate what beauty is; let individuals make that decision," he said.

The 51-year-old further added that a female actress who is considered 'dark-skinned' is considered average here. But, in the West, she may be viewed as exotic. "People have their own perspectives. But that shouldn't influence the system. If she looks a certain way, she may not be cast as the lead. It's not entirely their fault, as narratives are crafted in this manner. A girl who is fair, stories are written about her. You get a brief. Many people are struggling with this issue."