From facing casting couch, dealing with colour bias in the industry to getting judge for her looks; Jamie Lever opens up about her journey

Jamie Lever, who is one of the talented comedians of the industry recently opened up about facing discrimination based on her colour and looks. Jamie Lever appeared on Paras Chhabra's podcast, where she openly talked about her journey in the entertainment world. She spoke about facing tough situations like the casting couch, being treated differently because of her skin colour, and being judged just for how she looks. Her story highlights the struggles many face in showbiz and the strength it takes to rise above them. (Photo: Instagram)

I was a very shy person during my college days. I never wanted to be in the limelight and I never enjoyed attention. But my close friends knew that I’m a trainer singer, I can dance well, I could also mimic people. I was the funniest person in my group. So they started pushing me to participate me in competition. I started participating and winning awards and certificates. That’s when I developed confidence that I can do something. But nobody in my family gave me any kind of push, they left it to me what I want to do with my life. I started enjoying, when people noticed me or enjoyed my jokes. I went to college, did my Masters and did job also but deep down I had this feeling that I've developed love for performing.(Photo: Instagram)

I don’t think any girl gets spared from such incidents. Harr ladki shikaar ban jaati hai, you never know how will you face it. This happened a few years ago, once I got a random message on my Whats App, one of the coordinators messaged me. I have never shared this before. I got a message to audition for an International and I was very excited and that time I did not have any manager. They gave me my character description for the role and she was exactly like me, I was very happy. They told me they will arrange a zoom call for me and next day I got a zoom call for the audition. They told me the director is travelling, he’s in transit and he will take my audition. (Photo: Instagram)

I logged in and his camera was off, he told me he is in a low network area. He asked me to on my camera. He told me about my character and I asked him but there is no dialogues, so he said they want to improvise. I was like fine and this person was speaking in American accent and I felt it was legit audition. Then he told me there are some bold scenes and I was like I’ve my certain reservations and I’m not comfortable but just tell me what it is. (Photo: Instagram)

Jamies said, “He told me there’s a guy who is 50 year old, just think I’m that person and you have to woo him. So you can do anything, you can remove your clothes. That’s when I realised yahan gadbad hai aur ye apne industry mein hota hai. I told him up straight sir this is not for me and I’m not comfortable. He told me we are giving you a chance you are perfect for the role.” They tried to convince me a lot but I disconnected the call. But u realised that day that I can’t be so naive and I’ve to be sharp. (Photo: Instagram)

I don’t know if I should say this but in our industry there is a lot of bias based on your skin colour. They prefer fair people with fair skin tone and offer them good work. They don’t admit it but there is an issue of colourism in our industry. Gore kaale mein farak karte hain aur ye abhi bahot zyaada horaha hai industry mein. (Photo: Instagram)

I have been judged for my looks also. When I started working I was quote overweight. I was obese and I had PCOS and all, so there is a struggle losing work. I felt it is the requirement of our industry and so I lost a lot of weight and became skinny. I felt no change, people still did not offer me much work. So I came on healthy weight. But then I got a call from a production house to offer me a film. They looked at me from top to bottom and told me you will have to work on your body, go to gym and lose weight. (Photo: Instagram)

My weight loss was no where related to the role. The role did not require me to lose weight or me to be skinny as there were actresses who were offered the role to be hot and they were. My character was different and I was like why are they telling me this. But I told myself it’s okay if the role demands I’ll lose weight. But they looked at my clothes, body and shoes and made me very uncomfortable. And in the end they did not offer me role. I’ve lost work due to my colour. (Photo: Instagram)