EXCLUSIVE: “Didn’t Face Overt Racism But Things Were Systemic”
EXCLUSIVE: “Didn’t Face Overt Racism But Things Were Systemic” – Banita Sandhu On Working In The West!
Actress Banita Sandhu, best known for her roles in October, Sardar Udham and Bridgerton, recently sat down with Instant Bollywood for a candid chat about her roots, her upbringing in the UK, and her strong connection to India.
EXCLUSIVE: “Didn’t Face Overt Racism But Things Were Systemic” – Banita Sandhu On Working In The West!
Born and brought up in the UK, Banita shared her journey as a Welsh actress trying to make it in a system that wasn’t always built for people who looked like her. She explained that although she never faced blatant racism, the deeper issue was systemic.
“I never really faced blatant racism,” she shared. “I remember talking to my dad and when he was a kid at school, people used to call him names. When you’re young, you don’t want to think like that because you really want to believe everyone’s equal and has the same chances. But as you get older, you start to see how the system can be stacked.”
“I Was Lucky To Get One Audition Every Two Or Three Years” – Banita Sandhu, Who Began Acting At Age 11
It’s a powerful reflection. Growing up believing in fairness, only to find with time that the playing field isn’t the same for everyone. For Banita, that realization came early on. She started acting at just 11 and had already signed with an agent. But while her white peers were flooded with audition calls, Banita would barely hear from casting directors.
“I was lucky to get one audition every two or three years because there just wasn’t room for brown actors back then,” she recalled. “Meanwhile, my white peers were auditioning every week or every month. And as a kid, you don’t really get how these systems work.”
Even though she was talented and had the drive, opportunities were simply not the same. And yes, that stung. Banita also opened up about how that imbalance affected her confidence in the early years.
“I don’t have the same privileges that a lot of my white actor friends, especially the guys, have had and still have. I just don’t have access to that,” she said honestly. “I’ve been on this path, trying to fight against it and do well for myself, but also learning not to take it so personally. When I was younger, I let that need for validation mess with my confidence and sense of self.”
“But now, I don’t,” she said. “Now I see who I am as my biggest strength. This industry is tough, no doubt, but you gotta find your own happiness from within.”
(Also Read: Sardar Udham Actress Banita Sandhu REVEALS She Has THIS Mental Health Disorder!)
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