Konkona Sen Sharma slams ‘derogatory’ portrayal of gay characters in Bollywood: ‘We don’t have them until there is an issue’

Actor Konkona Sen Sharma has strongly criticised how homosexuality has traditionally been portrayed in Hindi cinema, saying that queer characters often appear only when filmmakers want to highlight an “issue”, usually through stereotypes and caricatures.

Speaking in a recent interview with Just Too Filmy while promoting her upcoming Netflix film Accused, Konkona said, “We don’t have gay characters until there is an issue. And then it becomes about that. Often, it ends up being derogatory.”

She added that many mainstream films reduce LGBTQ+ characters to comic relief or exaggerated traits, which only reinforces harmful stereotypes rather than normalising queer identities. According to her, cinema must move beyond tokenism and represent LGBTQ+ characters as layered, everyday individuals.

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How Accused avoids ‘default tropes’ around homosexuality

In Accused, directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, Konkona plays Dr Geetika, a respected gynaecologist whose life unravels after she is accused of sexual misconduct. The film also stars Pratibha Ranta as her wife, portraying a married queer couple living in London.

Talking about the approach, Konkona said that the film deliberately avoids typical storytelling clichés attached to queer relationships. “There was no burden of playing a queer couple, no pressure to do it differently,” she explained, adding that the focus remained on emotional truth rather than sexual identity alone.

Director Anubhuti Kashyap echoed this, stating, “I did not want to make a commentary on queer relationships. They are just a couple who happens to be queer.” She added that setting the film in London allowed the story to move beyond social commentary and focus on the characters’ emotional conflicts instead.

‘Queer representation needs normalisation, not commentary’

Anubhuti further stressed that her intention was to normalise queer relationships rather than sensationalise them. “Being queer is central, but not the main focus of the film. I think queer representation needs normalisation rather than commentary,” she said.

Konkona also highlighted how her character challenges gendered power structures, noting, “Women in positions of authority are called bossy and domineering when they have to pattern themselves after the patriarchy to be heard and taken seriously.”

Pratibha Ranta on discomfort with women in power

Co-star Pratibha Ranta added that Indian society is still uncomfortable with women holding authority, especially in professional spaces. “People get uncomfortable when women are in charge. We’re still getting used to seeing it,” she said, underlining how Accused explores these layered social dynamics beyond sexuality alone.

When and where to watch Accused

Accused, starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Pratibha Ranta, and directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, premieres on Netflix on February 27, promising a sensitive, layered take on identity, power, and prejudice.