Filmmaker Kiran Rao says it is heartening to see LGBTQ stories finding space in mainstream filmmaking, even though the progress has been quite slow.
The Laapataa Ladies director serves as a jury member for the narrative segment of the upcoming edition of the Kashish Pride Film Festival, South Asia's biggest LGBTQ film festival.
Rao said the representation of queer people in films and web series has increased but more needs to be done.
"There's a long way to go before we can stop having to speak about queer issues with this specifically separate lens... But it's slowly happening, as we can see in many shows on OTT, there's a much greater representation of queer people and a more diverse representation, which is very heartening for filmmakers like me and in general, for us as Indians, because this is something I feel we should all be sensitive to.
"We all need to sort of grow and evolve as a society to not have to box people into this other kind of segment," the director told PTI on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday evening.
In some ways, cinema is a reflection of society, which needs to evolve with time, she said.
"It's wonderful that so much has changed in the last two decades in our country."
The 15th edition of the Kashish Pride Film Festival will be held from May 15 to 19 at Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay and Cinepolis. Sridhar Rangayan serves as festival director.
During the festival, 133 films from 46 countries across categories will be showcased. The line-up also includes 10 films from transgender filmmakers.
Rao said she felt "incredibly lucky" when she was approached to serve as a jury member for the narrative segment of the festival. The other members on the panel are popular actors Sonali Kulkarni and Barun Sobti.
"For many years, I've wanted to participate and contribute in some way because I feel strongly about the community and the issues that the queer community faces.
"And, it is a lovely way to participate because I get to see films from all over the world. It's been a rich and diverse collection of films and a lot of fun interacting with my jury members, Sonali and Barun," he added.
She believes festivals like Kashish Pride are important as they create a space where many important issues can be discussed.
"I feel like it's helped the mainstream also in some way get to understand the issues that are faced by the queer community," she added.
Kulkarni, known for films such as Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Taxi Number 9211, and The Good Road, said mainstream cinema is slowly and positively accepting LGBTQ characters as a part of society.
"It's a welcome change and there is a lot of hope that I have in today's filmmakers, producers, storytellers, and writers. They are coming up with some brilliant ideas where we are not treating each other with helplessness or extra attention. We are taking each other in the face of life and that is fabulous," she said.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.