Rubbish to say that America is only for whites, says Padma

American author and television host Padma Lakshmi has never shied away from speaking her mind — be it about body positivity, racism or US President, Donald Trump. She has been quite vocal about the immigration policy of the Trump administration, and even became an ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union.

Talking about what drove her to activism, she says, “The ACLU have been vocal about civil rights in the US, as it not being respected or followed. This is an issue close to my heart, as I am an immigrant and so was my mother. Immigrants work really hard and we are a big part of the reason why America is a successful country and a global superpower. To diminish our contribution to the economy and the American culture is criminal, and to say that American land is only for white Americans is rubbish. Without getting too political, I think it’s important to speak out and help protect people who don’t have protection of their own.” Padma had immigrated to the US with her mother when she was four. Today, she is a single mother to her daughter, Krishna Thea.

Many Indian actors such as Irrfan, Priyanka Chopra and Anupam Kher are making an impact in Hollywood, and Padma welcomes them all. “It’s great to see that Indian people are making a mark and the world is becoming a smaller place and a bigger place at the same time. I would love to see more Indian artists and actors do well internationally, because for a long time, I felt very lonely (laughs).” Among the many Indian actors, she thinks Irrfan is fantastic and deserves all the success. “I have seen his performances in a number of films, and he reminds me of Om Puri. But he has a greater range than Om did. I don’t know him personally, but I really admire him as an artist,” she says.

Actor Padma Lakshmi