Sara Ali Khan has landed herself in a fix. Recently, she shot a magazine cover for Filmfare which happens to be her debut shoot and the results aren’t as expected. Shot in Kenya, the cover has not been well received among Twitterati who are calling it ‘racist’ and in bad taste.
Using a Masai tribesman as a prop is not only offensive but distasteful and uncalled for. The cover is being dissed for cultural appropriation.
Here’s a sneak peek of what went behind the scenes of Sara Ali Khan’s #Filmfare cover shoot. pic.twitter.com/SGqLNjkBaT
— Filmfare (@filmfare) February 27, 2019
Here’s what they have to say:
Apparently Filmfare and Bollywood think they exist in a parallel plane where racist discourse simply doesn’t apply to them. Especially if you’re a star kid (even one that studied law and political science at Columbia)! https://t.co/X7QgzBVEAU
— Nishita Jha (@NishSwish) February 27, 2019
Not a light or photography expert but there is no shadow so I think it’s photo shopped, not sure though.That’s not why I think this is in bad taste. Maybe I should hold my horses,maybe Filmfare does have full blown article on ethnic groups and probably Sara Ali Khan is the prop😐
— LoudPotato (@LoudPotato) February 26, 2019
Filmfare HQ:
— Meh (@NoodleFrankie) February 27, 2019
Um guys so we got a lot of heat for nepotism but hear me out
Sara Ali Khan – no don’t applaud yet cause there’s more – she appropriates culture – please stop cheering there’s more – and we photoshop an actual man in the background really badly – oh wow a a huge raise https://t.co/OG6ISUEr97
Did someone actually approve this for publishing? In 2019? Shouldn’t you know better? People & cultures are not props for you to appropriate. Disgusted.
— SparkleMcSnowflake❄️ (@Anjaani07) February 27, 2019
This photo is super tone deaf and Sara Ali Khan & Filmfare should feel super ashamed of themselves, I think the Masai tribeman, who are known for jumping straight high, is doing exactly that in the pic.
— Aditya (@Brewkenstein) February 27, 2019
His shadow is mixed with the model’s shadow (his foot’s shadow on her pant) https://t.co/kALmf6wUBo
Sara Ali Khan went to Columbia, and even she could not tell filmfare that maybe her “stunner” picture is racist and appropriative? Come on, Sara, you are one of the good ones!! https://t.co/lNlaaEcnFR
— shikha (@elitistsadgirl) February 27, 2019
And I thought her Ivy League education would have taught her that it is not okay to misappropriate other cultures. Turns out #SaraAliKhan is as ignorant as other Bollywood celebrities which is kind of sad because she did come across as intelligent initially.
— Neha (@neha2saxena) February 26, 2019
People expressing shock over Sara Ali Khan’s foolhardy Filmfare shoot “despite being ivy league educated” is so funny. Since when did an ivy league education automatically make someone smart, wordly or wise? Some of the biggest douchebags I know are from the ivy league.
— Aavi (@poisonaavi) February 27, 2019
Wow Filmfare. Wow.
— Sameen ثمین (@amarllyis) February 27, 2019
Kya bech kha gaye? Dimaag ya imaan?
Also. A woman as aware and as well-read as Sara Ali Khan agreed to this? Disappointing. https://t.co/HElLg1ATW5
He has a shadow..shadow of his feet can be seen on Sara Ali khan
— amar palsule (@amarpalsule) February 27, 2019
Why is there a jumping masai warrior behind Sara Ali Khan?? Africans are not props for your photoshoots.
— Chirag Wakaskar (@chiragwakaskar) February 26, 2019
What’s the point of such cultural appropriation?
— Prerna Hegde (@opinionatedkid1) February 26, 2019
Sara Ali Khan’s Filmfare photoshoot is offensive. The maasai people are not props. pic.twitter.com/RtNqPYMEPz
— Sal (@severalthots) February 26, 2019
It is not the first time a magazine cover has received negative reviews. Kriti Sanon shot a controversial magazine cover which was shot under a giraffe that was disturbingly suspended in the air. The shoot was called out for using a stuffed giraffe and the uncomfortable visual.
What Sara Ali Khan has to say about her photoshoot remains to be seen.
