With
a
shudder
Bipasha
remembers
the
incident
of
racial
abuse
in
the
UK.
"During
the
shooting
of
Goal
Arshad
Warsi
and
I
were
waiting
at
the
signal
at
the
location.
At
the
red
light
two
white
guys
dressed
really
weirdly
leaned
out
of
the
car
window
and
started
rapping
out
the
most
disgusting
racist
song.
That
was
their
unique
way
of
insulting
us."
Bipasha
says
she
has
never
felt
more
humiliated
as
a
human
being,
woman
and
a
celebrity.
"It
took
me
a
while
to
understand
what
was
happening.
Arshad
and
I
just
kept
looking
at
each
other
in
helpless
amazement
as
their
song
went
on
and
on.
And
mind
you,
this
was
in
the
most
densely
populated
Asian
locality
in
Southall.
They
called
us
Pakis
and
many
dirty
things.
The
insult
was
targeted
more
at
me
as
their
lewd
song
was
more
girl-driven."
Bipasha
was
horrified
to
learn
this
kind
of
attack
was
considered
normal
among
Asians
in
Britain.
"They
said,
it's
nothing
to
get
alarmed
about….
'Welcome
to
the
UK'.
How
can
any
community
or
people
accept
such
humiliation
lying
down?!
I've
been
subjected
to
unbecoming
behaviour
and
I've
retaliated
with
vengeance.
Even
when
I
used
to
travel
by
auto
I've
slapped
men
who've
behaved
badly
with
me."
She
says
she's
no
stranger
to
discrimination
and
bias.
"I'm
dark-skinned
and
when
I'm
without
makeup
people
actually
try
to
make
me
feel
good
by
saying,
'Arrey
aap
to
itni
gori
hain.
Screen
pe
itni
kaali
dikhti
hain!
'
Please,
main
gori
nahin
hoon.
Let's
get
that
very
clear."
The
mindsets
on
discrimination
are
changing,
and
Bipasha
is
proud
to
be
part
of
that
change.
"On
my
website
women
objected
so
strongly
when
a
men's
fairness
cream
was
launched.
They
wrote
directly
to
me
to
say
how
much
confidence
I
had
given
them
by
being
dark-skinned
and
yet
successful.
I
feel,
as
a
celebrity
I
can
make
a
difference
in
the
way
we
perceive
people
outside
our
gender
or
social
circle.
After
I
lost
a
lot
of
weight
and
started
looking
after
myself,
so
many
girls
consult
me
on
my
website
about
healthy….not
about
looking
good
or
getting
into
hour-glass
shape,
mind
you,
but
just
being
well.
I
feel
every
actor
needs
to
be
responsible
in
their
conduct.
Because
people
love
us
for
who
we
are.
We
can't
afford
to
let
them
down."
Story first published: Monday, December 3, 2007, 15:05 [IST]