‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’ breaks stereotype: Vaani Kapoor

Vaani Kapoor says her movie “Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui” is a conversation starter as it aims to present an authentic on-screen representation of trans people in mainstream Bollywood cinema.

The Abhishek Kapoor directorial places the struggles and dilemma of a trans woman, played by Vaani, without looking at the community through the lens of victimhood, she said.

The actor, whose turn as Maanvi in the film, has brought her career-best reviews, believes the film has served its purpose of igniting a conversation around trans people and their rights.
“We just wanted to normalise this and break stereotypes. There exists this perception, built over all these years, when we were growing up. The reference points we witnessed in films and shows, I think we don’t need to live by it today. That is a wrongful representation. A man dressed in a woman’s sari is not the correct representation of a trans girl. They are as stunning, beautiful and ‘normal’ as any other cis girl,” Vaani said.

The romantic drama flips the boy-meet-girl trope, when Maanvi’s lover, played by actor Ayushmann Khurrana, comes to the realisation that she is a trans woman.

While the film was met with a positive response, there was a section that felt a trans character, ideally, should have been played by a trans person.

“We only have a visual reference of a man dressing up to look like a trans girl. So for a cis girl to play the role would make the majority of the audience think that this is the depiction of a trans girl like, that it is not a man in a sari.
Her prep involved speaking to trans girls, understanding their life, their transition, watching documentaries and taking points from interviews with trans people.
“I just had to be responsible in getting it right. We have ensured that she is viewed in a different way than what we are generally used to seeing in the community that one is trying to speak to or represent,” she said.
The actor, feels fortunate that her performance has reached out to people, including those from the film industry.

“I feel grateful that people within the industry and outside are liking my performance. They are really giving me the respect of an actor, which feels good. There are few women-driven, fleshed out parts for women. It is hard to get those,” she added. PTI