Season 2, Episode 3: Queering Bollywood with Shelly Chopra Dhar

Welcome to another new episode of Queering Desi!

This week, we have the pleasure of chatting with Shelly Chopra Dhar, the director and co-screenwriter of "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga"!

This week, Priya chats with Shelly Chopra Dhar, director and co-screenwriter of the new Bollywood film, “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga,” Bollywood’s first mainstream queer love story since “Fire.” The two talk extensively about the film, from what it was like to cast the film to the lukewarm box office response in India, and why we didn't see more of Sweety (Sonam Kapoor) and Kuhu's (Regina Cassandra) relationship on screen. Shelly talks about her intended audience, and Priya even asks about the male savior trope in the story. Later, Shelly talks about her experience as the parent of a queer child and shares advice for other parents.

Organizers of a special screening of "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga" with Shelly Chopra Dhar in NYC on Feb. 7, 2019. [L to R: Raeshem Nijhon (Fictionless), Priya Arora (Queering Desi), Shelly Chopra Dhar, Anita Shyam (SALGA NYC), Dilip Nagarkar (Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies)]

About the guest:

Shelly Chopra Dhar is a writer and director, known for Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019). You can follow Shelly on Instagram (@shellychopradhar) or Twitter (@ShellyCDhar)!

[Queering Desi art: Nafeesa Alibhai and Sabina Pang]