(December 6, 2023) Actor Lin Laishram considers her 2021 film Axone, which sheds light on the struggles of India’s north-easterners, as a tribute to her fellow people who face pervasive racism within their own country. In fact, her commitment to the issue led her to step away from a modelling career in New York, where she was collaborating with top photographers and being featured in events like the New York Bridal Week.
Lin had made a conscious choice to enter the Bollywood industry, in an attempt to create a buzz for talent from the north-east and to showcase their acting prowess. “I could have easily stayed in New York and built my career there but I came back to India to be part of Bollywood’s larger-than-life landscape, which has immense power to spread awareness,” she said in an interview. “Since I love my culture, people and land (northeast), I would like to use Bollywood as a medium to spread awareness about it to the world and that is why I have stuck around Bollywood for so long.”
Lin Laishram
The Axone impact
She expected Axone to appeal to an Indian audience but Lin was surprised by the widespread impact her film had, going as far as the US. The universality of racism struck a chord across the globe, even if they were unaware of what exactly was taking place in India. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the massive response I received—apology letters, emails, and messages from individuals acknowledging their inadvertent hurtful remarks towards people from the north-east. This touched my heart deeply,” she shared.
The film, which premiered at the London Film Festival in 2019, narrated the story of Northeast Indian migrants in New Delhi striving to organise a wedding party. This November, when she married Bollywood sensation Randeep Hooda, the wedding reflected Lin’s profound attachment to her home state, culture and customs. The couple chose Manipur as the location for their traditional Meitei wedding.
Foreigner in one’s own country
In 2020 when the pandemic was at its peak, while walking back home in Mumbai, Lin encountered an unsettling incident where two men persistently referred to her as ‘corona’. Initially, she couldn’t fathom the reason behind their behaviour. It dawned on her later that she was being targeted because of her appearance.
Later she also came across instances where people from the north-east were denied essential supplies, expelled from PGs and hostels in cities during those tough times in places like Bengaluru and Kolkata. “It’s deeply disturbing for this discrimination to happen within our own country. We share no affiliation with China; we are as Indian as anyone else. Initially, casual racism was hurtful, but it escalated into outright harassment,” she remarked, highlighting the lack of awareness among Indians about their fellow countrymen from the north-east.
Lin on the sets of the film Rangoon
Stereotyped casting
Regarding her career, Lin shared her experiences of being offered roles and assignments portraying characters from South-east Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. “It’s ironic that despite being Indian, I’m often cast as a foreign actor. But I’ve learned to brush it off with laughter,” she commented. “We aren’t outsiders; we deserve recognition. We need to broaden our perspectives and be more inclusive.”
However, Lin remains optimistic about the increase in acceptance of the talent from the north-east, especially with various states gaining exposure through OTT platforms, paving the way for more stories from the region to emerge.
Then and now
Lin represented her state in Miss North East and achieved the first runner-up position in the 2008 competition held in Shillong. Later, she ventured into reality TV by participating in the ‘Kingfisher Calendar Girl’ show, impressing many with her striking appearance and athletic physique. She had made history as the first Manipuri model to appear on the national television in a swimsuit, creating mixed response.
Lin Laishram
The multifaceted actor is also a trained archer from the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur. She held the title of Junior National Champion in the 1998 Nationals held in Chandigarh.
Lin Laishram has been pursuing her career in Mumbai since 2001, even though modelling had taken her to New York for few years in between. Her journey in Bollywood had begun with a role in the movie Om Shanti Om, portraying a friend of the main character. Subsequently, she featured in films including Mary Kom, Umrika, Rangoon, Axone, Ave Maria, Hattrick, Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola, and Jaane Jaan, the latter being released this year.
Work abroad
During her stint in New York, Lin worked as a print and fashion model collaborating with numerous acclaimed photographers. Simultaneously she pursued acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting‘s, Art of Acting Studio. The Global Indian went on to become the brand ambassador of New York based jewellery brand, Ozoru Jewelry, and was part of prestigious projects like the New York Bridal Week.
India innings
Returning to India with the aim of promoting the northeastern region within the Indian film industry, the actor delved into theatre, engaging with prominent theatre groups like Motley led by Naseeruddin Shah, Pravah Theatre Lab spearheaded by Neeraj Kabi, and Rangbaaz by Imran Rasheed and Pawan Uttam. She got the opportunity to perform at renowned venues in Bombay such as Prithvi Theatre and NCPA, as she travelled with these productions. It was during her time at Motley that she crossed paths with Randeep Hooda, with whom she tied the knot on 29th November 2023.
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In addition to her acting pursuits, Lin has ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing her jewellery line, Shamooo Sana, operational since 2017. Recently, while expanding her business in Jaipur, she expressed her excitement about her new team in the Rajasthan’s capital. “Diving into a world of conscious creations with my amazing new team in Jaipur. Excited to infuse mindful designs into my jewellery brand, surrounded by inspiring women with impeccable knowledge. Here’s to new beginnings and empowering creations,” she shared.
A compassionate individual, Lin remains mindful of the marginalised communities. Even during her brief stay in Manipur for her wedding festivities last month, she remained committed to the issue and visited a relief camp with her groom, displaying love and support for those in need.
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