Charithra Chandran, who played Edwina Sharma in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, has spoken out against the entertainment industry making people of color compete against each other.
Chandran, who is gearing up for her debut West End play to wrap up, expressed her concerns about the scarcity of representation and the perceived notion that there is only “one seat at the table” for individuals from underrepresented communities.
“It’s not a zero-sum game,” Chandran said to Deadline. “You’re so focused on fighting your own that you become distracted from the people doing the oppressing. The oppressors have imposed the idea that there’s only one seat at the table, when what other people of color are doing is just pulling up more chairs.”
The actress, who has achieved stardom at a young age, also acknowledged the “burden of representation” that comes with being one of the few people of color in the spotlight.
“It’s so scarce that you’re expected to represent everybody in your community as opposed to just being an individual,” she added. “The goal is that representation is so nuanced and so consistent that no one individual portrayal has that burden, but while I have it, it’s a really important responsibility that I take seriously.”
The 27-year-old, born in Scotland to Tamil Indian parents, has been outspoken about diversity in the industry. She believes that this form of gatekeeping is intentionally done by a certain class of people to maintain control and limit opportunities.
Charithra Chandran’s breakout role in Bridgerton as Simone Ashley’s on-screen sister has opened doors for her, with a lead role in the Prime Video movie ‘How to Date Billy Walsh’ and an upcoming TV series, ‘Song of the Sun God’, which she will also associate produce.
She is currently wrapping up her West End debut in the one-woman play Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon, which she described as “the most fun I’ve had” and a “rewarding and challenging experience.”