Merle Oberon, a Hollywood star of the black and white era, is a forgotten icon in India, the country of her birth. She is the first actor of Asian origin to be nominated for an Oscar. Listen to this audiofirst, visualsled story of this famous actor who had to keep her racial identity under wraps.

Reported by Meryl Sebastian
Video by Devang Shah
Voiceover by Nikita Mandhani

#merleoberon #hollywood #indiahistory #hollywoodactor

Footage: Getty Images

0:20 Merle Oberon's inspiration: Silent film actress Vilma Bánky
0:28 Starts acting from Calcutta amateur theatrical society
0:32 Travels to France and meets Rex Ingram
0:45 Merle's family background
1:10 Sir Alexander Korda meets Merle
1:35 Tasmania is chosen as her new birth place
1:41 Merle gets nominated for an Oscar
3:00 Journalists started noting her tanner complexion

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