Director Hitesh Kewalya talks about showcasing a same-sex relationship in a sensitive and humourous manner in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 18, 2020)

His first film as a writer, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, revolved around the subject of erectile dysfunction. The film was praised for blending a taboo topic in a sensitive and humourous manner with a love story between Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar. The project also gave Hitesh Kewalya the opportunity and confidence to work on his next, this time, as a director. His directorial debut, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, showcases a love story between two men — Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar — and their struggle to convince the latter’s family to accept their relationship. Hitesh says, “This idea was discussed as a sequel even before Shubh Mangal Saavdhan went on the floors. With the success of the first film, I thought that I could tackle a subject that was more difficult, but very important with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.”

Talking about the franchise, Hitesh says, “Both the films have focussed on different aspects of male sexuality. The idea behind the franchise is to present such topics in an entertaining manner and then have them becoming a talking point. The aim is to start a conversation around subjects that are considered taboo. People have to realise that these things exist in society and it is only conversations that will lead to evolution. Thematically, we are in the realm of sexuality, and this seemed like a natural progression.”

Unlike some Bollywood films, which poked fun of homosexuals and their relationships, this film portrays a love story sensitively, infused with humour. The scenes between the two young boys, their relationship and their family’s reaction towards their love have attracted a lot of attention. Ask Hitesh what led him to focus on issues faced by homosexual couples, and he replies, “The moment you stop differentiating between a man-woman and man-man relationship, everything becomes crystal clear. I have a lot of friends who are gay. My first encounter with the LGBT community was when I was studying at a design school. When I spoke to them, I got to know about their struggles. I realised that at the core of our existence, our emotions are the same… all we need is a bit of empathy. With this film, we wanted to break away from the stereotypes associated with homosexuals. Right from the inception, Ayushmann had no qualms about doing this role, and both the boys have given it their best.”