Films

‘Kapoor & Sons’ 10-Year Mark: Director Reveals Fawad Khan’s Big Question on Gay Theme

Shakun Batra’s critically acclaimed family drama Kapoor & Sonshas completed a decade since its release. In a recent interview, the filmmaker looked back on the film’s challenging journey, revealing that multiple actors initially turned it down due to discomfort with its subtle portrayal of a closeted gay character, causing a two-year delay between the script’s completion and the start of filming.

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Shakun Batra said, “There was a two-year gap between when the film was written and when it got made. A lot of actors turned it down in the beginning. Actors weren’t comfortable playing homosexuals back then, and at one point I thought I needed to move on-I’d never get to make the film. Fawad loved the script and called me to ask, ‘Is homosexuality a whisper or a shout?’ I told him it was a whisper, and he was on board. That’s the only conversation we had-that homosexuality would be presented in a subtle manner, without saying it out loud.”

He added, “There are little hints, like tangerine shoes or self-conscious moments with his mother. We wanted families to connect to the film and feel this person could be part of their family, and it does not change anything. We didn’t show anything that would be off-putting. I remember watching the scene where Fawad Khan breaks down in front of Ratna Pathak Shah, saying he isn’t the perfect son, and I haven’t been so touched by any other scene. I watched it from the lens of an audience, not a filmmaker.”

The filmmaker furthermore revealed how there wasn’t a single day on set when there wasn’t an argument with the late Rishi Kapoor.

Shakun Batra said, “But he showered me with so much love after watching the movie. He invited me for dinner at Royal China, and it was a weird date where he let his guard down and told me how much love he received for the character.”

He said, “Greg Cannom, the Oscar-winning makeup artist who had done Benjamin Button’s look for Brad Pitt, was in India, and he agreed to do Rishiji’s makeup. At that point, there were very few artists doing that quality of silicone prosthetics. Neetuji (Kapoor) could not recognise him in his getup.”

Related Topics:Bollywood debut Fawad Khan Gay Theme Kapoor & Sons Rishi Kapoor Shakun Batra

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Sonya Hussyn celebrates ‘Deemak’ win, pays tribute to its ‘pillars’

Actor Sonya Hussyn has received the International Best Actor Achievement Award for her performance in Deemak, an accolade she described as particularly significant because it was presented on home soil at the Sunday Icon Awards.

Sharing a carousel of pictures from the ceremony on Instagram, Hussyn wrote, “Winning Best Actor internationally for Deemak was an extraordinary honour, but receiving this recognition at home feels especially close to my heart.”She dedicated the honour to the team behind the film, naming director Rafay Rashdi, producer Murad, and writer Abu Jinns, along with co-stars Samina Peerzada, Faysal Quraishi, Bushra Ansari, and cinematographer Rana Kamran. “This film would be nothing without you all,” she added.She thanked the Sunday Times and Sunday Icon Awards, urging the organisers to “keep celebrating art.” She also credited her styling team Ozi and designer Fahad Hussayn for making the evening “even more special” and “extraordinary.”

For her red-carpet look, Hussyn separately thanked designer Karishma Kewalramani, noting that “it takes a lot of effort to create something” with such intricate detail. She also thanked Saad Hassan for “managing everything so perfectly at the last minute”.

Hussyn’s caption also turned towards the people closest to her. She thanked her parents and siblings Moni, Salman and Saima, writing that “every achievement of mine begins with your love, prayers and support”.

She gave a special mention to her sister, actor Sana Hussyn, joking that Sana had “turned into a zombie towards the end of the night” after completing back-to-back shoots to attend the ceremony. She also thanked Rasikh Ismail Khan, whom she described as her “forever friend” and “father figure”, adding that she had “missed him so much at the ceremony”.

Hussyn also expressed gratitude to her partner Mansoor, whom she referred to by the nickname “Dazara Qarara”, for “always being by my side”. “This award is not the end of the journey; it is a reminder to keep telling stories that matter,” she wrote.

She concluded with a prayer: “May Allah protect our artists, our children, our talent and this beautiful country.”

The latest honour adds to a growing list of international recognition for Deemak. Hussyn previously won Best Supporting Actress at the inaugural Diamond Butterfly Award in Moscow in November.

The film, which also stars Quraishi, Peerzada, Ansari and Javed Sheikh, represented Pakistan among 34 entries from 17 countries at the event.

Deemak had also reportedly crossed Rs175 million at the domestic box office by that time.

Films

‘Mera Lyari’ put forward for oscar nomination race

Pakistani film Mera Lyari produced under the banner of the Sindh government, has entered the race for an Oscar nomination.

Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon chaired a meeting of the Information Department’s Film Board to review the development. Officials evaluated the progress of provincial film initiatives, active projects, future strategies, and partnerships with OTT streaming platforms.

The board confirmed the completion of the first phase of film projects managed by the Information Department.

Discussions are going on with national and international OTT platforms and institutions to secure screening, distribution, and promotional partnerships for the lineup.

“The inclusion of the film ‘Mera Lyari’ in the race for an Oscar nomination brings honour to Pakistan, particularly Sindh,” Memon stated during the meeting. “If the film secures an Oscar nomination, the outcome will mark a milestone and present the art, culture, and creativity of Sindh on the global stage.”

Memon added that the government aims to establish Sindh as a hub for filmmaking while offering local talent access to national and international opportunities.

Information Secretary Kashif Gulzar Sheikh, Director General Information Moez Pirzada, Director Films Hizbullah Memon and board members Waqas Rizvi, Salim Khan, Ehtesham Ansari, and Rab Nawaz attended the meeting alongside department officials.

Films

Pakistani Influencer Finds Sanjay Dutt’s Pakistani Home

Sanjay Dutt is one of the most successful stars of Bollywood. He has done great in his life and career despite countless controversies and legal battles. He has a huge fan following in Pakistan as well. His parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt were also big superstars who ruled over the industry.

Sanjay Dutt’s father Sunil Dutt hailed from Pakistan. He was born in a village Naara Khadda in Jhelum Pakistan. Sanjay has previously shared how his father always wanted to go and see his real home. Pakistani influencer Sameel Atif decided to find Sanjay’s ancestral home and went to visit it.

Sameel Atif showed the Dutt house in his video and it went viral for all the right reasons.

The internet is reacting to Sanjay Dutt’s home in Pakistan and people are sending love. One said, “This is how we all used to be before partition.” Another added, “So wholesome. This is why I pay the internet bill.” One went, “Amazing.”