Celina Jaitly and Shree Ghatak, Bollywood's first transgender actor, on why their new film is going to be a game changer
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; September 22, 2019)

"I don't think about my gender anymore. There was a time when I was trapped, but now I am free," says Shree Ghatak (Muhury), who has become Bollywood's first transgender actor after bagging a role as Chapala in Ram Kamal Mukherjee's Season's Greetings. The movie, which is slated for an October release, also stars Celina Jaitly and Lillette Dubey, and tells the story about a mother and daughter. It is dedicated to auteur Rituparno Ghosh, who made films like Titli, Dahan, Chokher Bali, Raincoat and Antarmahal, and will give a glimpse of all his major works, ideology and passion for music.

When Ghatak got this role, she was hesitant about taking it up, because she didn't want to play another stereotype. She runs the Troyee Foundation, which works for poor women, street children and the LGBTQi community. In 2017, she married her childhood friend Sanjay Muhury, paving the way for many couples like them. "I always wanted myself to be counted among other common people. I never wanted to be pigeon-holed into any category. My soul had always been of a girl, so I didn't think of myself as transgender. Then, I got married, and my husband told me that I should embrace the fact that I am an inspiration. Most transgenders get accepted as prostitutes and beggars, but my journey shows them the light."

Ghatak found a friend in Jaitly, who makes a comeback with Season's Greetings, and has always been a staunch supporter of LGBTQi rights. She was the ambassador of the Kashish Film Festival from its inception till 2016, has worked closely with NGOs like the Humsafar Trust, and has often rued the fact that not many actors support the cause. "When Ram wanted to cast Chapala, no one was willing to play a transgender, and we were all frustrated. His decision to cast Ghatak is groundbreaking. She will open the gates for many aspiring trans actors."

Ghatak adds, "I adore Celina for standing by the cause and making me feel comfortable at the shoot." Jaitly hopes that the storyline inspires conversations among people, specifically in "our newly liberated democratic rainbow society", where queer women definitely need their stories to be given their due.

"The movie focuses on the need for in-depth understanding of what being a woman from the LGBTQi community truly means in a country like India. In a subtle way, it encourages both legal reforms and public education to counter homophobia and transphobia. I am convinced that the best way to have this difficult conversation is through a medium most relatable to people, and that for me is cinema," she says. Of her own character, Romita, she says many people will identify with her, and will know that they have to have "uncomfortable" conversations at home, and beyond. "I have been involved with the LGBTQi cause for 18 years, so I needed to do this movie. I also recently lost my mom, and the experience that I shared with Lilette who played my mother, was emotional. I just hope that our film, like all others by Rituparno da, connects with people."

Ask Ghatak, who is going to be setting yet another example with this film, what she wants people to take away from the film, and she simply says, "People should know that there are many shades inside all of us, and we need to accept all of them."

A Tribute to Rituparno Ghosh: Season's Greetings, will be unveiled on August 31 on the occasion of Rituparno Ghosh's 56th birth anniversary
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 29, 2019)

The first look of Ram Kamal Mukherjee's film, A Tribute to Rituparno Ghosh: Season's Greetings, will be unveiled on August 31 on the occasion of Rituparno Ghosh's 56th birth anniversary. Amitabh Bachchan — who had worked with the auteur in The Last Lear (2007) — has not only agreed to unveil the film's poster, but has also recorded a special video message remembering the gifted filmmaker.

The megastar can be seen praising the late filmmaker as he says, "His thought process was so clear that he only chose films that he wished to make. [To see him] edit The Last Lear and bring it to the audience was certainly a great joy. We lost him too early."

Season's Greetings, which stars Celina Jaitly Haag, is India's first feature film to collaborate with United Nations Free and Equal project. Mukherjee says, "I approached Amit ji because he has worked with Rituda in The Last Lear, while Abhishek Bachchan worked in Antarmahal [2005], and Jaya ji in Sunglass [2013]. Who better than the icon to unveil a film that pays tribute to the legend?"

Ram Kamal Mukherjee on his next film which has been endorsed by the United Nations’ Free and Equal campaign
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 8, 2019)

A Tribute To Rituparno Ghosh: Season’s Greetings has become the first film to be endorsed by United Nations’ Free and Equal campaign that aims at raising awareness against homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination. It will be screened across the world. UN official Rikke Hennum says, “We know from experience that films like this can play a critical role in starting and sustaining conversations to help raise awareness of some of the issues the film touches upon—from acceptance of same sex relationships, to the lives of LGBTQIA people in India.”

Director Ram Kamal Mukherjee, who started out with the intention of acquainting mainstream audiences with Rituparno’s work, reveals that issues faced by the LGBTQIA community became a part of his film organically. “Just before we began shooting, the Supreme Court abolished Section 377 on September 6. Since Rituparno was always vocal about the community’s rights, it made sense to incorporate it. In the film, September 5 is an important date,” he informs.

He took the film to the UN on his leading ladies, Celina Jaitly and Lillete Dubey’s insistence. “I was not sure about it because I felt it would be difficult for them to relate to, since the film is set in India. But I have been proved wrong,” says Ram. Celina, who has been an active supporter of LGBTQIA rights, shares, “Changing attitudes is never easy but it has happened on other issues and it is happening already in many parts of the world on this one. With the UN coming on board as a social partner, we are hoping this film will strike a chord globally.”

The film also marks the debut of transgender actor Shree Ghatak. Quiz Ram if it was a conscious choice and he says, “I wanted an established actor but everyone was skeptical about playing a transgender. Celina and Lillete voiced concerns over taking a non-actor for the role but it was a risk we took and I am happy with the result.”

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 25,  2018)

An upcoming venture that pays tribute to Rituparno Ghosh will mark Celina Jaitley’s return to cinema after seven years. Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s offering is particularly special for the actor, given that, like the openly-gay filmmaker, Jaitley too is an active proponent of the LGBTQ community.

“I am happy to be part of Ram Kamal’s film, A Tribute To Rituparno Ghosh: Season’s Greetings, because when he narrated the story to me in Dubai, I got goose bumps. Post marriage, and becoming a mother, I was looking for a subject that would excite me. Since I have been associated with the LGTBQIA movement since 18 years, I [am happy to] act in a film that deals with the issue,” Jaitley tells mid-day.

Mukherjee reveals that while his film is a tribute to Ghosh, it will not be a biopic. “It’s a tribute to his cinema sensibility. It honours his body of work.” Based on a mother-daughter relationship, the film pairs Jaitley with veteran actor Lillete Dubey, who plays the role of her mother. The Aritra Das and Shailendra Kumar production also star débutante actor Azhar Khan.

A short work trip to Egypt first introduced Jaitley to Mukherjee’s work. “He made a short musical on moods and moments, and always had perfect ideas for lighting and compositions of frames. I will shoot in Kolkata for the first time, and I’m excited about it.”

Jaitley’s association with people who have distinct sexual preferences began early on. “My first boyfriend was gay. I was 16 when I realised that he has a different sexual preference. He died of bulimia-induced stroke. My first makeup artist was a trans-gender, and treated me like a daughter. He died in a road mishap. That’s when I decided that I would fight for their causes.”