Perizaad screams off lesbian role!

After her initial excitement, Perizaad Zorabian has suddenly refused to do a film dealing with lesbianism

RAUL DIAS Times News Network

"I'm so excited about this new film I'm doing in which I play a lesbian. It's such a challenging role!" gushed actor Perizaad Zorabian a few weeks ago as she readied herself to play the protagonist Kiran in the Indo-US project When Kiran Met Karen. Today, Perizaad has a different story to tell.
"I have chosen to step back from the project because of my own personal inhibitions about playing the character of a lesbian and for no other reason," admits Perizaad, who says that the decision to not do the film was the hardest decision she has ever had to take. "I did what is right for the film. It truly is a very brave film. It would be unfair to the script, character as well as the director to have an actor play Kiran half-heartedley. Kiran is a fantastic role for any actor who has the courage to think with an open mind," she says.
Speaking to BT from New Jersey, director Manan Katohora says that he holds absolutely no grudges against Perizaad for backing out of the project. "She is a brilliant actor and a wonderful person. Although I would have loved for her to be a part of the film, I respect and understand her decision. I guess, past Bollywood films dealing with lesbianism like Girlfriend have scared many actors off," says Manan.
One such actor is Amrita Arora who played a lesbian in the film Girlfriend. "I was not happy with the way the film ultimately shaped up. It was meant to deal with the issue with sensitivity, but it turned out to be a film to titillate the masses," says Amrita, for whom the film is still a sore issue.
According to film trade analyst Indu Mirani, very often, smaller stars are apprehensive about doing such 'different' films because of the type of films we have seen in the past. "Films like Girlfriend and Men Not Allowed have dealt with the subject very crudely which makes such subjects very unappealing to newcomers," opines Indu, who adds that on the other hand, progressive films like Fire and My Brother Nikhil made by good directors will attract bigger stars.
Whether a big star or a relatively new actor, it is ultimately the way the character is portrayed that matters, says trade analyst Taran Adarsh. "It is the entire package, the script, the banner, the director that determines how a film and performance — lesbian or straight — is appreciated. I don't think smaller stars should shy away from experimenting with such subjects," he says