Ayushmann Khurrana Explains Why The Team Hid Topic Of Transphobia While Promoting 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui'
Ayushmann Khurrana is one of the actors who knows how to choose the right kind of film by choosing his projects wisely. In a recent interview with PTI, he said that authentic representation for movies with LGBTQ characters is crucial.
Ayushmann Khurrana is one of the actors who knows how to choose the right kind of film by choosing his projects wisely. In a recent interview with PTI, he said that authentic representation for movies with LGBTQ characters is crucial.
Still, his experience in the past has also made him aware that it is not easy to get actors from the community on board for projects.
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Talking about the difficulties that the team faced while Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. Ackonlowgeing the debate, he said getting the representation right is not easy.
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¡°I don¡¯t think we are there as a society. There is a lot of difference between the West and us. For Shubh Mangal¡ we got in touch with many closeted gay actors and asked if they were ready to come out and do the film. Because we wanted representation, but they refused, saying they would get typecast and would never be able to play a hetero male character. It was impossible to get a gay actor, (but) we tried our best.¡±
Ayushmann also said that the team of 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' deliberately hid the topic of transphobia in its promotions and created the illusion of just another regular romantic comedy. He added,
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¡°We made a conscious effort of marketing the film a certain way. We thought people should discover the subject while they watch the film, it should come as a surprise. In my last outing, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, a lot of people from two-tier cities didn¡¯t go for the film because they were put off by the fact that two men were kissing."
Talking about masking the subject of transphobia,
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¡°We thought if we put our subject out in the open and the trailer, it won¡¯t appeal to the wider audience. That is why we had to create an illusion of a rom-com. This film is a great baby step towards representation. There will be an actor from the trans community speaking for the community in the times to come. That is only fair, and the mic has to be passed."
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui features Khurrana as Manu, a transphobic man who eventually transforms.
The 37-year-old actor said the film directly aims to speak to the general audience, who are not progressive and are quick to dismiss gender identities.
While Khurrana instantly boarded the project, he described Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui as his ¡°riskiest project¡± yet.Everything, the actor said, depended on how the film¡¯s narrative would treat its central conflict.
¡°The treatment matters in a film like this. It could have gone either way. It needed someone like Abhishek, who is a progressive person. I knew the school of thought he comes from and his worldview. So, we were in safe hands. It is my riskiest film ever. It deals with transphobia. It is difficult for the masses to digest. The regular Joe on the street is transphobic and homophobic, which is why it was my riskiest film. But I was never in two minds.¡±
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui features Khurrana as Manu, a transphobic man who eventually transforms. The movie is being lauded for its brave subject.
(with inputs from PTI)
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