Many Bollywood actors willing to embrace gay roles

Mumbai, Dec 7 (IANS) Irrfan Khan has done the seemingly unthinkable in Mira Nair's AIDS-related film 'Migration'. He plays an unhappily married man in a secret anguished affair with another.

The film was screened at the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and also on TV for World AIDS Day.

Earlier, Sanjay Suri was the first mainstream hero to go happily gay in 'My Brother Nikhil' and he has now decided to play another gay character in a forthcoming play.

So, have Bollywood actors decided to get over their inhibitions about tackling homosexuality?

Ranbir Kapoor: Play gay? Why not? I'd love to play any character that takes me into unexplored parts of my psyche. But first let me serenade all these lovely ladies in our movies.

Akshaye Khanna: It would depend entirely on the script.

Manoj Bajpai: I'd love to play a gay character if it's written well and it's part of a very good script.

Vinay Pathak: The excitement of portraying any character lies in the strength of the character's graph and progression vis-a-vis the plot and its conflicts. How a character helps a narrative grow is what interests me the most. The cast's sexual orientation and other factors are all secondary.

Rohit Roy: Playing gay? I don't mind at all. But it depends on the film and its director's intentions and most importantly how his sexual preference affects the film and his character. If homosexuality is intrinsic to the narrative and the director possesses the sensibilities of Mira Nair or Aparna Sen, I'd surely play gay. But I'd never play gay to titillate senseless mirth or to ridicule the gay community. My character's sexuality would have to drive the choices he makes in life, which in turn takes the picture forward.

Tusshar Kapoor: I'd play gay only if the director has the class and sensitivity to handle such a portrayal without making it a caricature or offensive.

Arshad Warsi: I'd willingly play a gay character. It will be a new challenge to me as an actor.

Anupam Kher: Playing gay is nothing new to me. I did it years ago in Rahul Rawail's 'Mast Kalandar' and David Dhawan's 'Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge'.

Ravi Kishan: It's a big challenge for a straight guy to play gay. I'd love to play a gay character. I used to play Sita in the stage shows of Ramleela back home in Jaunpur.

Sammir Dattani: I must admit playing one makes me slightly uncomfortable at this stage of my career when I'm still finding my bearings. For my new film 'Dhoom Dhadaka' I had to get into drag and I was very uneasy. It took Tom Hanks and Irrfan years before they came to 'Philadelphia' and 'Migration'. I need to be experienced as an actor before I attempt a character so distanced from me.