08062025-LSTL-01.qxd 6/7/2025 9:20 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE AN EXHILARATING & FUN RIDE Let it roll Life Sydney Sweeney shared some insight into her character’s journey on the upcoming third season of Euphoria. “Cassie is crazy,” Sydney told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. “From the genius of Sam Levinson to the raw sophistication of this profoundly moving cast and tight crew, I am honoured to be Euphoric,” she said. Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name, is set to direct the biopic of celebrated American rapper Snoop Dogg. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 8 JUNE 2025 From stereotypes to heartfelt stories I N recent years, Indian cinema and OTT platforms have begun taking progressive strides towards portraying the LGBTQ+ community with more authenticity and empathy. While there’s still a long road ahead, several Indian actors, across generations and industries, have embraced queer roles, breaking stereotypes and challenging societal norms. From veterans to new-age stars, here’s a look at actors who’ve made a mark by portraying queer characters on screen. This Pride Month, we celebrate the stars who lit up screens with powerful queer roles EMOTIONAL DEPTH Akshay Oberoi – Inside Edge Season 3 In Inside Edge Season 3, Akshay Oberoi’s character comes out as gay, a revelation that adds layers to his personality and narrative arc. Portraying a closeted athlete in a hypermasculine environment, Akshay Oberoi tackled the complexities of identity and internal conflict with a quiet, dignified intensity. His performance added emotional depth to a show primarily known for its high-octane drama. LAVENDER LOVE Rajkummar Rao – Badhaai Do Rajkummar Rao stunned audiences with his restrained and powerful performance as a gay police officer in Badhaai Do. The film explored the idea of a lavender marriage, a heterosexual marriage between a gay man and a lesbian woman to appease societal pressures. Rao’s commitment to portraying queer vulnerability as widely praised, marking a major milestone in mainstream Bollywood storytelling. CONFIDENTLY UNAPOLOGETIC Ayushmann Khurrana – Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Ayushmann Khurrana took a bold leap with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, a romantic comedy centered on a gay couple. Playing Kartik, an unapologetic gay man who challenges conservative attitudes, Khurrana’s portrayal was both entertaining and pioneering. He used his stardom to amplify queer narratives. SHARMILA TAGORE inclusion in this list speaks volumes about the growing diversity of queer stories being explored in Indian OTT content. HEARTFELT PERFORMANCE Sonam Kapoor – Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Sonam Kapoor starred in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to feature a lesbian protagonist. Portraying a young woman struggling to come out to her conservative family, Sonam delivered a gentle, heartfelt performance that helped normalize queer identity within a family-oriented narrative. DIGNIFIED OUTING Vaani Kapoor – Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui AKSHAY OBEROI In Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Vaani Kapoor played a transgender woman with dignity and sensitivity. The film tackled themes of love, acceptance, and gender identity, and Vaani’s portrayal was widely commended for its sincerity, even as the film invited dialogue around the importance of trans representation by trans actors. MADHURI DIXIT SIGNATURE POISE Sharmila Tagore – Gulmohar Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore made a graceful comeback in Gulmohar, portraying a queer matriarch who finally lives her truth in her twilight years. Her quiet assertion of her identity, delivered with her signature poise, made a strong statement about queer stories not being limited to youth or rebellion. NUANCED PERFORMANCE Madhuri Dixit – Maja Ma RAJKUMMAR RAO Madhuri Dixit surprised many with her role in Maja Ma, where she plays a middle-aged woman who comes out as a lesbian to her family. In a society that often sidelines the sexuality of older women, Dixit’s portrayal brought nuance to the character’s internal journey, balancing social expectations with self-acceptance. — TNS SONAM KAPOOR HIGH STAKES Lisa Mishra – The Royals LISA MISHRA Singer-turned-actress Lisa Mishra recently worked in the series The Royals, where she plays a queer character navigating the world of high society and royal legacy. Her VAANI KAPOOR Actor-filmmaker Sohrab Khandewal launches art magazine Anumodna Actor Deepika Padukone on Saturday joined the cast of Telugu cinema star Allu Arjun and director Atlee’s upcoming movie. Backed by production banner Sun Pictures, the movie is billed as a “magnum opus”. The currently untitled movie was officially announced on Arjun’s 43rd birthday in April. “The Queen marches to conquer! Welcome onboard @deepikapadukone …” Sun Pictures posted on Instagram. The project will mark Deepika Padukone’s reunion with director Atlee, following their successful collaboration on the 2023 blockbuster Jawan, which was headlined by Shah Mehak Kochhar Anumodna, a newly launched magazine by Sohrab Khandewal, an actor, writer and filmmaker, is a revolutionary magazine welcoming artistic voices from across the nation, offering them a space to bring their vision to life. The launch event was held on Friday at Chandigarh Press Club-27, drawing attention from cultural visionaries, creators and distinguished guests. Known for his roles in the web series Akoori and Untouchable, and films like Jagga Jasoos, Sohrab Khandewal also made his debut as a director and producer with the film Que Sera Sera, which went on to achieve various prestigious awards, including Best Feature at the Bafta-qualifying Carmarthen Bay Film Festival in Wales. Deepika Padukone joins Atlee-Allu Arjun’s magnum opus Rukh Khan. It will also be her first on-screen pairing with Arjun, the lead actor of the Pushpa franchise. Atlee is also known for Tamil films Mersal, Theri and Bigil. This follows the controversy surrounding her reported exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit though there was never any official confirmation of Padukone’s involvement in the film. — PTI c m y b Where every vision has a voice PHOTO VICKY Vanga’s loss, Atlee’s gain? Anumodna, which translates to “rejoicing in the gifts of others”, will release monthly issues featuring 24 creative pieces. Sohrab Khandewal’s belief that India is heavily influenced by the western culture has inspired him to create a platform that reconnects with and celebrates Indian traditions, trends and culture. This belief served as the driving inspiration behind Anumodna, fueling his desire to help the world rediscover India’s artistic and cultural identity. The magazine aspires to nurture and showcase writers, painters, actors, poets, or anyone with an artistic vision, igniting a spark of inspiration within them. The mission is to empower them with techniques, skills, and knowledge to thrive. It is a platform for talent to flourish. In this digital age, Anumodna values individuality and stands for personal connection and authenticity. Sohrab explained artists from anywhere can easily be a part of this movement through their online website.