Konkona Sen Sharma Addresses Bollywood's Historical Shortcomings in Queer Portrayal
During the promotional activities for her forthcoming OTT film 'Accused', acclaimed actress Konkona Sen Sharma provided a critical analysis of the evolution of queer characters in Bollywood. She emphasized that for many decades, the Indian film industry has consistently failed to normalize LGBTQIA+ identities, often reducing them to the subject of "derogatory humor" or limiting their presence to issue-based narratives.
The 'Default' Character in Indian Cinema
In an interview with Just Filmy, Sen Sharma pointed out that unless a film explicitly focuses on a specific social issue, characters tend to conform to a "default" archetype—typically straight, male, and Hindi-speaking. She argued that this lack of diversity fails to reflect the varied realities of society. "Our world is not peopled by the default. And the default is often straight, male, Hindi-speaking. Not varied enough," she remarked, drawing parallels to the portrayal of differently abled individuals, who are similarly underrepresented unless their condition is central to the plot.
'Accused' as a Groundbreaking Narrative
Sen Sharma highlighted that 'Accused' challenges this conventional mold by featuring a queer couple whose relationship is an integral and natural part of their lives, rather than serving merely as a plot device or a moral lesson. The film, directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, follows Geetika, played by Sen Sharma, a brilliant surgeon living in London with her partner Meera, portrayed by Pratibha Ranta, who is also a doctor. Their world is disrupted when Geetika faces accusations of sexual harassment at work, leading to intense public scrutiny and exploring themes of trust and professional fallout from a queer perspective.
Pratibha Ranta on Realism in Queer Relationships
Pratibha Ranta, who recently gained acclaim for her role in 'Laapataa Ladies', echoed Sen Sharma's sentiments, praising the film's "non-preachy" approach. Ranta noted that 'Accused' focuses on realistic situations, such as the complexities of trust and sacrifice in a partnership, rather than solely emphasizing the struggles associated with being queer. "The situations are very real," she explained, underscoring the film's commitment to authentic representation.
Production Details and Release Information
Produced by Karan Johar's Dharmatic Entertainment and written by Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, 'Accused' is scheduled for release on Netflix on February 27, 2026. The film aims to contribute to a broader conversation about inclusivity in Indian cinema, moving beyond stereotypical depictions to offer a nuanced portrayal of queer lives.
This discussion comes at a time when Bollywood is gradually evolving, with films like 'Accused' potentially paving the way for more diverse and normalized representations of LGBTQIA+ communities in mainstream media.
