While Hollywood continues to make some of the finest pieces of visual arts either through storytelling or cinematography. But they do have some major flaws and one such thing is that they are always heavy on racism even if they don’t mean harm.
Sometimes, the racist content would be put inside the show just for the sake of some laughs and flaunting their open culture. But most other times, the screenwriter writes roles according to the mindset he has developed to a certain kind of people and well! it shows evidently onto the screen.
We are hinting towards the representation of some races in a very pre-determined manner. Those communities are people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, or any other country rather than America.
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To explain a little bit, let’s say that the Japanese character would always be portrayed smart but nerdy, and similarly, Indian characters would always be alone, saving money and doing petty jobs for pennies. You can relate, Can’t you?
We’ve compiled a list of such Indian characters in Hollywood shows or movies which have been stereotyped heavily.
Raj Koothrappali (Big Bang Theory)
Raj is one of the major characters from the show and has a massive presence during the entire 12 seasons of the Big Bang Theory. But, despite being one of the main leads, we can easily spot out that his character was just made so that they can make fun of the Indian immigrant scientist based in America.
The show did have its funny bits for sure but it has huge racial content. Now, Raj was shown to be alone throughout the seasons, and initially, he was having problems even talking to the opposite gender. Which he then solves by drinking which opens him up for a talk with the ladies.
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He was also not given any designated spot unlike Sheldon and all the other characters. During the last few seasons, they’ve gained quite a number of new members and due to that Raj was always seen sitting on the floor while at dinner time despite everybody having their own space on the sofa or extra chairs.
He was stereotyped into one more thing and that is rich heredity and doing all the things according to his parent’s wishes or else his expanses would not be covered from the side of his family. Come on, for a Ph.D. and a working ‎Astrophysicist, isn’t that too dumb?
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Dinesh Chugtai (Silicon Valley)
Played by one of the most searched men in recent times, Kumail Nanjiani. The character of Dinesh is originally depicted to be from Pakistan and in his own words he mentioned in the series that it took him five years to get the green card and was he was asked about Al-Queda 14 times in the process.
The show is filled with stereotypes such as trying to show off due to family pressure, cheapening out on stuff, the terrorist remarks which the Muslims and Pakistani people usually hear in foreign lands, and much more.
The show depicts the conditions of Pakistani people in the IT industry based in Silicon Valley but it can be quite much related to any Indian in the same position.
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Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (Simpsons)
He is one of the recurring characters in Simpsons and is purely developed to showcase the stereotype of Indian people based in foreign lands. By nature, the character owns and runs a shop and can be seen saying ‘Thank you and Come again’.
But right from the script written for the character to the voice over and fake Indian accent it was provided has been a cause of stress for many. The character has been aging a lot of dislikes from the Indian community and has been flagged by them too.
Kumail Nanjiani, the actor we’ve just discussed above has also commented and criticized the character for in the early days when he used to do comics and standup, He would be asked to perform that accent and he has no clue how to.
Dopinder (Deadpool)
Well! Remember the Taxi Driver friend of Deadpool named Dopinder. Who was so frustrated with his life that at the very chance of doing something exciting he jumps on board and stared as sort of a sidekick to Deadpool himself?
He has a sad life, drives a taxi, has no one, and is kind of depressed, looking for something fun, earning petty cash, and another countless thing which set a perfect example of a racial stereotype.
Ranjit (How I Met Your Mother)
Whoever had watched How I Met Your Mother cannot forget the contribution of Ranjit, the Taxi Driver who drove Ted and the rest of the party to Robin’s house where he first expressed his feelings for her.
But soon after we saw him joining the club and having drinks while sharing the stories. He was an important character and maybe the show didn’t focus much on showing racial stereotypes, but eventually, we can see the traces of the same quite well.
Ranjit is from Bangladesh, has an ugly wife, no life, jumps at the possibility of having a little fun, doesn’t it sound kind of similar?
Also, his biggest achievement in the show was becoming a Limo driver from a mere Taxi driver, which can be assumed as the best thing he could possibly do and that he has reached his potential.
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Tell us in the comments about your opinions and suggest any other character you think they’ve depicted in a stereotyped manner if you have some insights.
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