Even if you haven’t seen Bridgerton, you might have heard of Simone Ashley’s performance as Kate Sharma in the second season. The Tamil-British actress first graced our screens in the Netflix show Sex Education; however, she didn’t have a major role. In this regency period drama we see Simone as the lead Kathany Sharma along with Charithra Chandran; her onscreen sister Edwina Sharma, as we are introduced to an Indian family in 19th century London.
From the classical rendition of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham during a ball, to the incorporation of distinctly South Asian elements like haldi, and Indian inspired fabrics; how far does Bridgerton really go in terms of authentic representation?
Viewers have pointed out some linguistic inaccuracies; Sharma is an upper caste north Indian name but the girls call their father Appa which is a Tamil term. Kate also refers to Edwina as Bon which is a Bengali word meaning sister.
The show itself has been met with mixed reviews with many people appreciating the director Shonda Rhimes for her inclusive and diverse representations while others believe that it feels forced, especially because of major historical inaccuracies that overlook racial elements and erase decades of colonial violence.
Like other Shonda Rhimes shows (greys anatomy, how to get away with murder) Bridgerton practises colour blind casting i.e. casting without considering the actor's race. So people of colour can see themselves represented on screen as more than just victims or stereotypes. However, in recent years, the entertainment industry is placing more importance on colour conscious casting which acknowledges that race plays a role in most interactions and weaves it into the story.
We have to keep in mind that this show is set during the period when the East India Company was taking over the subcontinent but there is no mention of the imperialistic oppression brown people were facing. Instead it glosses over the realities of colonialism and the limited social mobility for marginalised communities at the time.
Perhaps we shouldn’t hold too many expectations about historical accuracy from a fictional period drama that has ariana grande playing during a ball. After all, wouldn’t it be easier to revel in the liberal escapism of bridgerton and simply enjoy the raunchy romance of the regency era. But then that begs the question; can diverse representation really be authentic and not superficial without delving deeper into racial backgrounds?
Of course, there is no single or right answer to this. So let me know how you feel about the representation in Bridgerton. Even if you haven’t watched the show what do you think is the impact of casting poc in lead roles?