The discourse around casting queer actors for queer roles has intensified in the past few years. In a move that is crucial to the representation of the community, filmmaker Onir has roped in a queer actor to lead his LGBTQiA+ story, Pine Cone, making it a first in a mainstream Hindi movie. The project will roll in Kochi on May 10.

The filmmaker says he had initially cast television actor Shardul Pandit for the role. “One day, we were discussing why I didn’t cast a queer actor for the part. I had tried, but it’s not easy for actors to be out and proud queer because then it [makes people wonder] whether he will be able to effectively play a straight part. Actors face discrimination on that basis. But as luck would have it, in two days, I got a call from a casting agent. I saw this wonderful audition by Vidur Sethi that struck a chord with me,” recounts Onir.

He knew right away that he had found his leading man. “When I was discussing the intense scenes with him, I asked him if he had reservations. That’s when he told me that it wouldn’t be a problem because he identifies as queer. When I cast him, it was on the basis of his merit, but his sexual identity was a pleasant surprise that makes this film only richer.”

To Sethi, Pine Cone represents a win for the LGBTQiA+ community. “I do believe that the lived experiences that queer actors bring in, adds to the representation of queer parts. With this one step ahead, multiple possibilities will open up for actors from the community. It will open gates for employment of more actors,” says Sethi.

Meanwhile, Onir’s We Are has been on hold, after the script of one of its short films was rejected by the Ministry of Defence earlier this year. The director asserts that he will pursue the anthology. “We Are is my act of rebellion. But this movie is also special. It’s about our lives and loves, [told through] a decade in a guy’s life. It is inspired by my own experiences.”