'Neighbours' actor Sachin Joab responds to racist comments

Sachin Joab has responded to racist comments from people who have criticised his casting in Neighbours.

The actor plays the role of Ajay Kapoor, part of a new Indian family for Erinsborough. The family will become regular cast members in the New Year.



Joab has hit out at a minority of Neighbours fans who have said it is "un-Australian" to cast the new family.

Neighbours staff have since deleted several racist posts from their website, and have said "that racism and small-mindedness won't be tolerated".

The Australian-born actor told the Herald Sun: "There is various pockets that will say it is un-Australian to have an Indian or an Indian family on Ramsay St.

"Those Aussies who are saying it is un-Australian will be the same ones who pretty much supported the White Australia policy back in the day, you are never going to get away from that kind of stuff."

Joab added that he still occasionally faces racism in his life, saying: "I faced [racism] myself, from the early years in primary school all the way up to recent times.

"Sometimes it's just blatant. I think having a show that shows different families coming together can only be good for the community."

The soap's executive producer Susan Bower said that the casting of an Indian family was to help represent a "more modern society".

She said: "The ABC and SBS have always done it [cast multi-cultural Australians], and it was only 20 years ago you put Greeks and Italians on TV and people would question it.

"We have been criticised heavily for being too white and you are damned if you do and if you don't, and we would much rather be criticised for moving [in this direction]."

Sachin Joab's Ajay will be joined by wife Priya (Menik Gooneratne) and daughter Rani (Coco-Jacinta Cherian).

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