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Friday, March 20, 2026
TopicFairness creams

Topic: fairness creams

Dabur Fem’s ad plays on fairness obsession. But it got Indians talking about LGBTQ at least

Dabur Fem's Karva Chauth ad might be rainbow-packaged conservatism. But chatter on LGBTQ+ community is key.

Before Fair & Lovely, there was Afghan Snow ⁠— all about the fairness creams market in India

The fairness cream industry has a long and prosperous history in India, and was estimated to touch Rs 5,000 crore by 2023, until the Black Lives Matter movement hit this year.

Dropping ‘Fair’ from Fair & Lovely won’t erase Indian racism

Johnsons & Johnsons, Hindustan Unilever, and even Shaadi.com, are introspecting their contribution to racism. But re-branding products is not enough.

Army against ‘soldiers’ endorsing pan masala or fairness cream, will vet ads before release

Worried about negative portrayal, Indian Army will now scan all advertisements showing actors in the uniform, and take strong note if any violation is spotted.

Billie razor’s ‘real body hair’ ad is insidious, harmful and exploitative

The ad manages to package and sell the fickle and ephemeral idea of choice to women.

Indian men are swapping ‘tall, dark and handsome’ for ‘tall, fair and debonair’

Men in India have been buying more fairness products, because of which the bleaching cream market in India alone has an annual growth rate of 18%. 

On Camera

‘Defies logic’: HDFC Bank chair’s abrupt resignation over ‘ethics’ rattles investors

His resignation letter alleged that practices within the bank were not in congruence with his personal values and ethics led to HDFC shares slumping to their lowest since June 2024.

Israel’s tolerance for persistent threats on its borders has eroded: US intel on Iran war

When conflict with Iran ends, says the report, area’s key players are likely to reexamine longstanding assumptions & alliances as they determine how best to advance their interests.

Peaceful power transfers followed uprisings in India’s neighbourhood. It’s a sign of mature democracies

Rating democracies is a tricky business. I am only using the simple metric of who in the Indian subcontinent has had the most peaceful, stable, normal political transitions and continuity.