Actor Sai Pallavi has said she turned down a reported Rs 2 crore endorsement deal for a fairness cream because she did not want to promote products that could make people feel insecure about their skin colour.

The actor, who will play Sita in Ramayana: Part 1, said she believes people should feel confident about their natural appearance rather than try to meet society's beauty standards.

Speaking in an earlier interview with Bollywood Hungama, Sai Pallavi said she has never endorsed beauty products because she rarely uses makeup and prefers to appear naturally on screen.

"You need to be confident about who you are and your skin colour," she said.

The actor explained that her decision was also influenced by her younger sister's experiences. She recalled that her sister was often encouraged to eat certain foods with the belief that they would make her fairer, which deeply upset her.

"I felt I needed to stand up for that, at least for my sister's sake. Otherwise, what would I do with all that money?" Sai Pallavi said.

She also shared that she had struggled with acne before entering the film industry and had tried many skincare products because she felt self-conscious about her appearance.

"I didn't want to leave home because I thought people would only notice my pimples," she said.

However, after making her acting debut in the 2015 Malayalam film Premam, she realised audiences accepted her despite her acne, which gave her greater confidence.

Sai Pallavi said many young people later told her they felt encouraged after seeing someone succeed without hiding such skin conditions.

She added that this inspired her to avoid promoting products that might make people question their appearance or feel less confident about themselves.

While explaining her decision, the actor said she respects those who choose to endorse such brands but wanted to remain true to her own beliefs.

Source: NDTV