Boys Called Me ‘Momo’ & ‘Chow Chow’,” Chum Darang Opens Up About How She was Subjected to Racism
First Published: 14th March, 2025 20:41 IST
Chum Facing Racism in Mumbai, recalled playing a Chinese infomercial girl in Paatal Lok, admitting she accepted role out of financial need.
Actor and Bigg Boss 18 finalist Chum Darang recently spoke out about the need for greater inclusivity for people from the North East in India’s film industry and society and Chum Faced Racism in Mumbai. In an interview with BBC India, Chum recalled her experiences with racism since moving to Mumbai from Arunachal Pradesh.
Chum Faced Racism in Mumbai
Chum moved to Mumbai in 2018 with hopes of building a successful acting career. However, she was met with racial discrimination early on. Recalling her first experience at a mall, she said, “Young boys called me names like ‘momo’ and ‘chow chow’. I didn’t know how to react, so I just gave them a look and walked away.”
She added that such incidents worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic when people wrongly linked her appearance to the virus. “People would blame ‘my country’ for the pandemic,” she said, expressing frustration over the ignorance that often overlooks the North East’s integral place in India.
“I want people to know that we are from this country too. We might look different, but I’m an Indian too,” Chum asserted.
Says Few Meaningful Roles for Actors from NE
Despite landing roles in Badhaai Do, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Paatal Lok, Chum highlighted the lack of meaningful roles for North Eastern actors.
“It’s evident that roles for us are still not written as they should be. The chances of getting lead roles are slim, no matter how talented we are,” Chum said Facing Racism in Mumbai.
Chum recalled playing a Chinese infomercial girl in Paatal Lok, admitting she accepted the role out of financial need. “I realised later that I’m meant for bigger things,” she added.
Chum recently participated in Bigg Boss 18, finishing as the 4th runner-up. She also made headlines for calling out social media personality Elvish Yadav for making racist remarks about her in a YouTube video.
Chum’s experiences reflect the broader challenges faced by North Eastern Indians in both everyday life and the entertainment industry. Her call for inclusivity highlights the need for representation and respect for diverse identities in the country.
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