Skin DEEP!
After the reveal of Asha’s troubling secret, actress Tanisha Gorey tells all…
While we’re used to Asha and her twin brother Aadi giving dad Dev the runaround, when the tub of skin-lightening cream fell out of Asha’s bag last week, it was a big shock to realise that the teen has been harbouring a very worrying secret. And Tanisha Gorey, who plays Asha, admits the issue is one she knew little about before her alter ego’s storyline emerged…
“I’d heard that skinlightening happened, but I had no idea that it was as common as it actually is,” shares the 17-year-old. “I’ve tried to find out a lot more about the issue, and now I’m excited to try to get the message across that this is something that young girls are turning to as they struggle with their self-esteem.”
With Dev so far unaware that his daughter is so distressed by her appearance that she’s prepared to risk her health, we can only hope that Asha will be brave enough to confide in someone who can offer her support – before the terrible situation goes too far.
“Asha doesn’t think her dad would understand,” sighs Tanisha. “She’s not ready to answer any questions,
and she’s very hostile with both Dev and Mary, insisting that they let her do her own thing. She thinks they’re too far removed, and she wants her own freedom now she’s getting older.” Meanwhile, as Asha’s sensitive story plays out, Tanisha has the support of experts who have already helped her a great deal to try to understand what her character is going through…
“I’ve met with a lady called Narinder Chana at Rethink Mental Illness, as well as the
British Skin Foundation,” reveals the star, who has played
Asha since 2009. “I’ve read a lot of stories and a lot of facts, and
I’ve looked into people’s thought processes as to why they turn to skin-lightening.”