Bollywood Reacts To Ek Ladki Ko Dekha, Bollywood’s First Same-Sex Love Story Written by A Trans-Woman,Gay Directors Rejoice

All eyes  are  on  the  lovely  Sonam Kapoor as she   graces the  screen this Friday in debutante director Shelly Chopra Dhar’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga  as a beautiful happy-go-lucky highly eligible  girl from a  conservative family who has a deep dark secret.

She is in love  with someone of her own gender.

This is  the  first time a mainstream actress is  playing a  lesbian character.

Shabana Azmi who  played a lesbian in Deepa Mehta’s Fire thinks it’s a healthy time for gender exploration. “And Sonam, who’s like  my own daughter , has constantly sought  out roles  that challenge  the status quo.”

Adds gay filmmaker Onir , “I think it’s wonderful that’s someone like Sonam who comes from Mainstream cinema space is doing a lesbian character .Sonam has always been forthright in supporting the lgbtq movement . Hope male actors from mainstream are inspired by her .I am looking forward to seeing the film.”

Interestingly  Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is written  by a trans-woman GazalDhaliwal who has  based  the  plot on  her own experiences.

Gay editor-writer-director  Apurva Asrani is  miffed  that Ghazal’s contribution  to  the film is not being satisfactorily highlighted  in  the publicity and marketing.

Says  Apurva, “One will have to wait and watch. Right now I have seen a heterosexualshaadi song to promote the film and a campaign where men are talking about their lady loves with the hashtag Ek Ladki Ko dekha toh. None of the marketing is skewed in the direction of the LGBTQ community. In fact they haven’t even talked about the fact that the writer of the film Ghazal is a trans-woman. So let’s see if  Sonam is actually playing a lesbian woman.”