Singer Jonita Gandhi recently shared her experience of growing up in Canada and how things changed when she returned to India. The singer, born into a Punjabi family in Delhi, had to move with her parents to a foreign country when she was just nine months old.Jonita Gandhi about facing racist comments In a recent conversation with Hauterrfly, Jonita reflected on her experiences with racism and the personal insecurities she battled over the years. She shared that while Canada had a sizable South Asian community that offered a sense of familiarity, she felt distinctly alienated upon coming to India.Jonita recalled that when she came back to India, she was treated differently, and even the way rickshaw drivers spoke to her felt odd. They had charged her double, and it made her feel as though she didn’t belong here.
Jonita about feeling insecure about her bodyShe further recalled being bullied for her facial hair during her school years. “I used to get a lot of racist comments while growing up. But I was more bothered about being bullied for my facial hair. I used to have curly side-locks. They used to call me Godzilla. I think they just thought I was ugly. I used to come home and cry. Even the Punjabi boys in my class would make fun of me.”She admitted that the bullying had affected her both mentally and physically, as she started having insecurities about her body. “Growing up, I was convinced that I was never going to have sex because of the same issues. I couldn’t accept my own body; how can someone else accept it? I still have some of those issues.”Jonita shares how music helped herBut music helped Jonita to a great extent. It helped her feel something different and special in life. She felt ugly looking at her body and had to wear a kurti while doing shows in Toronto, whereas everyone else was wearing a lehenga.Jonita’s latest music video ‘Beparwai’ is garnering love from fans.
