BY LAUREN CODLING
A “heartfelt” play exploring a gay Muslim woman coming to terms with her identity premiered in south London earlier this month.
The Funeral Director is centred around Ayesha, a director at a Muslim funeral parlor. When she is visited by Tom, who is looking to organise his Muslim boyfriend’s funeral, Ayesha is
faced with dilemmas relating to her faith, community and sexuality.
Described as an “incisive and heartfelt story of sexuality, gender and religion in 21st century Britain,” the story was the winner of the Papatango New Writing Prize in July.
Although the play mainly explores homosexuality in the Muslim community, the show’s writer, Iman Qureshi, highlighted the fact that the stigma was not just unique to this group.
For instance, the law graduate followed a news story regarding Christian business owners who had refused their services to gay people when she was conducting research for The Funeral Director.
“Homophobia is clearly something that is still prevalent in many cultures and religions, and Muslim communities are no exception,” she told Eastern Eye. “But I do believe attitudes are changing, slowly, sometimes frustratingly slowly, but still, enough to give me hope.”
The play is Qureshi’s first full length debut. She describes herself as “incredibly lucky” to have a play opening, as well as having access to an “amazing” cast and crew.
Admitting she once believed no one would ever produce it, the story was one which would not leave Qureshi.
“And I thought, well even if it’s never produced, at least I’ll get it out of my system, so I can then go on to write a more marketable play,” she revealed. “I suppose it just goes to show that if your writing is true to you, that won’t go unnoticed.”
Previously, the 32-year-old has had short plays or limited runs commissioned or produced by various outlets including the BBC.
Qureshi, who was born in Pakistan but now lives in south London, believes we are very used to hearing “one kind of Muslim voice”.
Just because a voice is Muslim, it does not mean it needs to deal with specifically ‘Muslim issues’, she noted.
Earlier this year, fellow playwright and Doctor Who writer Vinay Patel suggested introducing an award which would be designed to recognise South Asian creative work in the UK.
Qureshi agreed it would create opportunities for writers and allow them to “write about anything they want to write about, and not just what they think might get them recognised by a white middle class mainstream”.
She thinks it will show people that South Asians have incredibly diverse stories to tell.
“Often you see theatres programme one ‘south Asian’ play dealing with ‘south Asian issues’, and nine plays by white writers that deal with everything from climate change to the housing crisis, to relationships, to yoga,” she said.
“And you’re like, why can’t a south Asian write about climate change? Climate change is universal and affects us all equally, so why are only white writers getting those slots?”
The Funeral Director will be showing at Southwark Playhouse until November 24. It will be touring across the UK until March 30.
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.