What Women Want: Kareena & Sonam Talk About Sexual Orientation

Kareena Kapoor’s latest guest on her show What Women Want was Sonam Kapoor and here’s what she said about sexual orientation and depiction of sexuality in cinema. Firstly, on being asked about her inspiration, Sonam Kapoor revealed that she didn’t draw much inspiration from her life to essay her role of a lesbian lover in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga but it was more of her overactive imagination that helped her in drawing for the character.

Why Indian Cinema Still Loathes Gay Men In Love?

Kareena’s next query was about the absence of Hindi films showing two men in love even though we have seen two women in love in movies like Fire. And she rightly asks so. Films like Kal Ho Na Ho and Dostana may have hinted at same sex love between two men but that was largely to ridicule the relationship and not show a serious take. Gay male characters are always shown to be extra cosy and desperate for love. Case in point Suresh Menon and Rishi Kapoor’s characters in Partner and Student Of The Year.Society in general likes to control who women or men love, whether it is different ethnicities or different sexualities. Generally, people are ageist, sexist and homophobic so when there’s a bit of a conflict in a story it adds something to it, says Sonam. But does this answer the question? Nope.

A Society Controlling Love

Image Courtesy: www.wallpaperup.com

But the real reason behind it is the inherent need to preserve a certain idea of masculinity. Showing gay men in love can hurt the male ego big time even though it will only be reflecting reality. Women are far more forgiving about fluid gender roles and fluid sexualities as it is only a matter of choice for them and not ego about their gender or themselves.

Changing Archaic Views On Sexuality

Coming back to Sonam Kapoor’s movie Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga, it raises another question of how we can change the views of the older generation i.e. the parents who are the first to oppose the same sex relationships of their children. A fact that was also a part of the narrative of the movie, written by transwoman writer Gazal Dhaliwal. In response to this question, Sonam Kapoor sounded mildly optimistic as she said that Indian society is on a path of change but there’s still a long way ahead. Films and art are a medium which can affect this change as they entertain and educate at the same time.

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How to sensitise society towards differentiating between sexual orientation and gender, was the next question on Kareena’s mind. Sexuality is something that we are born with, it’s not a choice. With Section 377 being revoked, homosexuality is not looked upon as a crime anymore but the stigma associated with it needs to go from people’s minds, replied Sonam. This change was brought about by openly talking about the issue and asserting the rights of individuals.

What is your take on same-sex relationships? Are we talking too much about these things or is it not enough to bring a change? Let us know on Her Zindagi's Facebook page.