Adah Sharma will star in a Bollywood romantic comedy which has a man falling in love with a woman, who identifies as a man
Elina Nayak (BOMBAY TIMES; May 10, 2019)

Adah Sharma began her acting career playing a woman possessed by the spirit of a dead man in Vikram Bhatt’s horror drama, 1920 in 2008. Now, she is all set to play a man on the big screen. About her upcoming Bollywood romantic-comedy, Man To Man, the actress says, “I feel so lucky to have gotten a chance to portray a role like this. It’s something no other actress has done till now in the mainstream Indian cinema.” Excerpts from a chat:

What was your first reaction when you learnt about the role?
Director Abir Sengupta didn’t tell me upfront that I will be playing a man. When he met me to narrate the story, it seemed like a typical ‘boy meets girl and falls in love’ kind of a story. But midway through the narration, he revealed that the girl is, in fact, a guy! I was completely taken aback and I was like, ‘What? Really!’ Naveen Kasturia plays the man who falls in love with my character, who reciprocates his feeling after the initial wooing. But what happens when he learns that his girl is a guy, is what the film is all about. I am very happy that Abir chose me for a role that will represent the LGBTQI+ community in a positive light.

What is your character like?
From the outside, my character looks like a woman in every sense — wears dresses and shorts and looks like a pretty girl with whom any guy will fall in love with. But in reality, she is a man. I was blown away by the sensitivity with which the role was written. Portraying the character has pushed my acting skills. It’s a role that will surprise, entertain and educate the audience in equal measure. I am proud of it.

This sounds like a first-of-its-kind romantic comedy. Tell us more.
More than a love story, it’s a film that seeks to normalise gender identities that are termed queer. It tells the world to accept people for who they are. It also encourages people to be comfortable in their skin, even if they don’t fit into the conventional gender roles that prescribe how we should be rather than recognising how we are or how we feel. As they say, the soul has no gender, does it? Whether you are born male or female, you should be allowed to be what you identify yourself as. The film also shows how people from the LBGTQI+ community are bullied by their family, friends and society at large. Having said that, we are not trying to be preachy.

This is a romantic comedy, but the humour will be sensitive. The makers are planning to dub the film in multiple languages. It is a universal film that will resonate with everyone.

What kind of prep did you undergo to get into the skin of your character?
A lot of homework went into acquainting myself with the state of mind, psychology and the struggles that trans people face. After all, the way we behave, talk and express is a reflection of what we feel about ourselves. I wanted the portrayal to be as authentic as possible. Abir’s inputs were of great help, too.

You also have a Telugu film Kalki in the offing besides another Hindi film...
Yes, we’ve finished shooting for Kalki. It’s an investigative thriller set in the ’80s. I play an independent girl and have a retro look in the film. Then, there is Commando 3. The audience will see me in an action-packed avatar in the movie. I am glad that I am getting to portray diverse roles.