Actor Navid Negahban, recently featured in the new American film 12 Strong, joined the discussion of potential whitewashing in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Aladdin.
Naomi Scott is set to play the role of Princess Jasmine, which provoked criticism as her background is British and Indian. Negahban articulated that, “It’s not whitewashing…The thing is that the garden should be filled with flowers of different kinds. If not, the garden is going to be very boring.”
Actor Kaushal Odedra is an extra in the film and previously weighed in on the subject: “Aladdin was the perfect time to show diversity but also be accurate…They’re being out of touch with what’s going on around them.”
In speaking to The Daily Mail, director Riaz Meer was even more pointed in his commentary: “Failing to hire on-screen talent of the right ethnic identity to meet the clear needs of this production is just plain wrong. We expect better from all filmmakers.”
