EXCLUSIVE: “LGBTQ+ representation has been stereotyped or irresponsible in Bollywood”, says Rainbow Rishta director Jaydeep Sarkar

Jaydeep Sarkar directed Rainbow Rishta is receiving rave reviews from all corners for its authentic representation of the LGBTQ+ community. The docuseries explores six real-life stories and gives viewers an insight into queerness, queer love, and challenges faced by the community. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Jaydeep Sarkar revealed why he made a series on this subject. He also insisted that the LGBTQ+ community is misrepresented. The filmmaker also lauded Ayushmann Khurrana and RajKummar Rao for their roles as a gay characters. Excerpts:

Jaydeep Sarkar on his idea behind Rainbow Rishta and challenges he faced

Ever since the series release, it has received a positive response. Reacting to it, the director said, “I am very overwhelmed and moved by the responses. It is provoking conversations, it is making people look straight and queer people look inwards. Also, I am contended that I have created something that is very authentic to who I am as a person.”

Rainbow Rishta

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Explaining why he decided to make the series, Jaydeep shared, “I wanted to make a queer show about queer joy to tell the world that please don’t see us only from a lens of being victims, villains or oddities and stop exoticizing us. Also, the more we see real and authentic representation, the more we’ll be able to normalize queer love and start having real conversations which go beyond, should they have rights or not?”

On misrepresentation of the LGBTQ+ community on-screen

We further asked the director if he believed there has been a remarkable surge in showing queer love on celluloid. Addressing the continued prejudices faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, Sarkar insisted, “It’s not remarkable at all. There has not been an intersex or trans representation. In fact, the representation has perpetuated stereotypes and in many cases has been very irresponsible. It’s been so underwhelming, apart from a few films like Loev, all of Onir’s work, Badhaai Do, has been a great triumph. But the rest, I feel, have left a lot wanting.“

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Jaydeep also believed there is lack of accurate representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in Indian entertainment. He stated, “In many ways I feel the community is misrepresented because I see a lot of shows where queer lives are used as plot points sensationalize narratives, create drama, and that is very detrimental. So, to queer people and world at large, I see a lot of queer work done with a lot of irresponsibility.”

Jaydeep Sarkar lauds Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao for play LGBTQ+ character with confidence

We also asked Sarkar if he feels sometimes the subject is made in a clumsy and fun way. Commending Dostana and how despite being humorous it dealt the subject in right way, Sarkar shared, “It was dealt with humour which was right for that time. You have to make work that the audience will slowly thaw to. I don’t think a rainbow rishta would have been possible if there was not Dostana.”

We also asked how he felt seeing actors like Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao, Madhuri Dixit, Sushmita Sen, Huma Qureshi among other play LGBTQ+ characters on-screen. Jaydeep opined, “I don’t think you have to be an alien to play ET. I also want queer people to play straight roles, and I think what Rajkummar did in Badhaai Do, or Ayushman, and Jitendra did in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was brilliant. It resonated with me as a gay man as they came from a place of empathy.”

Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan and Badhaai Do

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On a parting note, the director also agreed that mainstream actors are apprehensive to play LGBTQ+ roles. “I think it takes a lot of courage and bravery to be able to play an LGBTQ character with confidence, gumption and strength. Whether it is Ayushmann, Rajkummar, Madhuri Dixit, Huma Qureshi, all of them have played great queer characters confidently. But it is not enough. There needs to be less cremishness and a lot more confidence, like how probably Hollywood is doing.”

Rainbow Rishta was released on 7th November and is streaming on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video.

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