Bigg Boss 18's Chum Darang gets candid about facing racism in Mumbai; says 'They were calling me momo and chow chow'

Chum Darang is a popular figure in the Entertainment Industry. Whether it's her appearance on Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 18 or her performance in Bhumi Pednekar's Badhaai Do, the actress has made a space for herself with her powerful presence. Chum has now spoken out on the film industry and how people should be more accepting of folks from the northeast.
In an interview with BBC India, the actress, who is from Arunachal Pradesh, described encountering bigotry after moving to Mumbai. Chum went on to say that she developed a 'thicker skin' to survive in the city over time.
She said, “Young boys at the mall called me names, and I didn’t know how to react. I just gave them a look and left. They were calling me momo and chow chow. I don’t know why they assume, if I look like this, they’ll give me some Chinese name and think I’ll get offended. It’s just that I want people of this country to know that we are from this country too. We might look different, but I’m an Indian too."
The actress also discussed why she took on her character in Paatal Lok, in which she plays a Chinese woman. The online series also featured Jaideep Ahlawat and Ishwak Singh in prominent roles.
“I mean, it’s very evident that roles for us are still not written like how they should be. It’s very less. So, the chance of getting (lead) work is tough here. But we’re surviving; things are changing. Bombay is a very expensive city to live in. So, I did this role in Paatal Lok, I did the role of a Chinese infomercial girl. I had to do it because I needed money. After that I realised, nahi, I am meant for bigger things," Chum stated.

Chum Darang finished as the fourth runner-up in the reality TV show Bigg Boss 18. She rose to prominence with standout performances in films like as Badhaai Do and Gangubai Kathiawadi. The actress also recently slammed Elvish Yadav for making racial remarks against her in a YouTube video.