Why do you think members of the LGBTQIA+ community are still working toward acceptance in the 21st century? Shouldn’t this issue have been resolved already?
It starts with the acceptance that people have in our society in general. People still don’t accept people’s sexuality as they are. There are norms and social constructions under which we are living. When I did Congratulations, I understood a lot about it. For me, this is normal because I have friends from the LGBTQIA+ community. Who you choose to love is a personal choice. It cannot define the person you are. There’s a lot of difference based on one’s sexuality and that’s the problem. Any form of art represents society as it is. We need more people for this purpose. We should celebrate more and more people of the community and create a world that is equal in all forms.
What is the mindset of the film industry towards making stories about LGBTQIA+?
Change has started. The commercial side of this is that the makers feel that the audience will not be comfortable watching these stories. But you will know about the audience only when enough of these stories are told. Badhaai Do, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Modern Love Mumbai has told these stories in recent times. So, from Deepa Mehta Ki Aag Se Badhaai Do, we have come a long way. love is love. The more we normalize it, the more people will accept it. People need to realize that this may not be your reality but it is someone else’s reality and you need to respect that.
The frequency of such stories may not be high but I am optimistic as I have been part of a strange story. You have gay love stories which are accepted and appreciated and seen by the masses at large. Change needs to come in not only Indian but global mindset. In the West, there is some normalcy as they have been given these narratives for a long time. This process has just started in India.
Do you think there are still a lot of people, even from an inclusive industry like media, who are afraid of coming out of the closet?
This is the sad truth. They are humiliated, discriminated against and made fun of. People use the most condescending words about you. It is a lonely and difficult journey. It requires a lot of courage. I hope people in the LGBTQIA+ community will see the stories being made up and see that there is a representation and that some people in the community have become famous and made a name and a place for themselves. Cinema is a strong tool and as a society it is our job to create a safe environment for all.
What are the challenges faced when making a film about community?
It comes with a lot of responsibility when you are filming a marginalized community. It takes a lot of research to make a film. You have to make sure there are a lot of people in the community who are part of making that story. Because you can’t have a third person perspective on what a queer person’s life is like. And that’s congrats two champions. We had an advocate from the LGBTQIA+ community. He sat down with us on the script. Our director and writers researched for two years. We had friends and family members who belonged to the community. So there was a lot of conversation. We wanted to do it in the most sensitive way possible. To the end of it, these are the characters we are creating and someone’s experiences may differ from theirs. So, you just have to make sure that no one gets hurt. You do your level best to provide as fair representation as possible. I am proud and glad that we have made this film. The makers did not make the film to make a statement. He tried to make it as general as possible. Through the journey of these characters, they tried to normalize love outside of traditional norms.
What kind of reactions and reactions did you get after the release of Badhaai Do?
It was tremendous. We have got a lot of love from the society. I remember going to the theater and there were people, four of my friends came and hugged us and they thanked us saying it was the first time they saw their story on the big screen. Our social media accounts were flooded with messages. Even now, we get tagged on a lot of posts. The film is truly celebrated. We were just showing the lives of two people. We didn’t sensationalize it. We weren’t trying to make noise to get people’s attention. We were not brave; We were just telling a story. I feel lucky to be a part of the story. I think it has definitely started a conversation.
Any memorable conversations or experiences you can share?
I was shooting in Lucknow. And it was this weekend that Badhaai Do released. I went to the theater with my entire crew to watch the film. There was a woman who came and hugged me and said, “I have accepted my gay son. But this is the first time I realized how hard it must have been for him.”
A video went viral as soon as the film was released. This guy in a theater was watching a movie and there was another group of people making fun of the characters and this guy got up and said I’m gay, what are you going to do about it? This is the kind of reaction the film has got.
When do you think the situation around acceptance and total inclusivity will change? Do you think cinema can play a big role in bringing that change?
Absolutely. this is just the begining. There is a long way ahead. I have been a part of the cinema that has brought about a big change like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. I’m hoping that happens with more queer stories. Cinema is a great platform to share knowledge. People need to understand that a person is born this way, one cannot change the way one feels for someone. Why should one lead a loveless life? And loving someone starts with loving yourself. The generic term needs to be changed.
In the past, homosexuals or obese people were used only as comic relief in films. But then Dum Laga Ke Haisha happened and it changed the conversation. In Badhaai Do we didn’t use the sexuality of me or Rajkumar’s character for humour. The situations that happened were funny but there was nothing funny about who we were. The story needs to change. A gay man cannot be portrayed as a threat to a straight man in a movie.
Aapke Dum Laga Ke Haisha co-stars Ayushmann Khurrana and you, have chosen ‘Cinema for Change’. How do you make those choices?
After doing Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, I realized how powerful cinema can be. We mainly want to entertain the audience. But through entertainment we want them to look at life differently. Art, be it film or painting, needs to bring progress in the society. My upcoming films are also thought provoking. This is my service to the society. People today want to see what the actors have to say. We have millions of followers. And if we do not use our power to do something for the society then it is a failure on our part. Though it is a conscious choice, I don’t do films to speak my mind, I choose stories that impress me. Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Badhaai Do or Saand Ki Aankh are movies about celebrating people, which we don’t usually celebrate. I am glad that these films have come to me and I want to keep doing them because I feel that is my calling.
Hansal Mehta’s film in Modern Love Mumbai about a gay man was not allowed to be streamed in some Middle-Eastern countries. Why do you think these issues persist?
I am not in a position to talk about any particular country. I think this is a general mindset. When we think of our country; We were not where we are today, five years ago. Progress is slow but we need to see how we normalize the conversation. Coming out of the closet is easier said than done. Lack of acceptance begins with the family.
Our director Harshvardhan Kulkarni said that when we started preparing for Badhaai Do, when we had a long discussion about the climax, the father asked Rajkummar’s boyfriend to sit next to him. Harshvardhan felt that the closet does not end with the family. Once you get into the family front, the closet gets bigger with neighbors and relatives as well. The closet disappears when people don’t see you differently because of your sexuality. That’s what makes Badhaai Do and it was very impressive. I don’t want to patronize but it has been a tough journey and I respect his courage.
For example, when Ellen DeGeneres came out as gay, she was completely excommunicated. He was not given any opportunity. But look at him today. She is married to her partner and is happily in love. And I am sure she has encouraged many people to live the same life.
When it comes to official documents and forms, gender or gender category always refers to male, female and then others. Why can’t the other genders be more specific?
There is at least some acceptance that there are genders and genders other than male and female. It has taken a long time for people to respect it. It is small but it is a step forward. You cannot judge a trans-man or trans-woman for their identity. It’s good to see that dating apps have options for people to see what they identify with. Cinema and OTT have played a big role in bringing acceptance in the society. When the fire was released it was condemnable. At least it is not happening now. We have come a long way.
What’s next in your career?
Arjun Kapoor and I have done the rapping of Lady Killer. I have also eliminated the eater and the mob. Raksha Bandhan and Govinda Aala Re are also set to release soon.