Nakuul Mehta: Had LGBTQiA+ representation in the show’s writing team

Nakuul Mehta

There is a certain charm to Nakuul Mehta - be it his ideas, his beliefs that determine his script choices or his social media activities. Only this can explain why the actor, only three shows old, has gone on to become one of the most popular television stars. Now, Mehta is ready to woo audiences with his first audio show, Mine & Yours season 2. In a quick chat with mid-day, the actor discusses the Audible show, and its representation of the LGBTQiA+QIA community.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

Did you have any inhibitions about doing an audio show?
On the contrary, I was excited because you [don't have to worry about] hair, make-up and costume; you can show up to work in shorts. We recorded it at a time when none of us could travel. So through the show, I could imagine myself in New York, rappelling on a river, etc. This was also my first gig after the pandemic struck. So, we had a skeletal crew of just the actors - Kubbra [Sait], Sayani [Gupta], and me. We tested every day, hoping that we were safe. [That aside], just to be in front of a mic, in a controlled environment with co-actors felt so freeing. It was a joyride.

Did the lack of a visual aid leave you perplexed during any sequence?
Sayani and I had jammed on a theatre production called Cock while I was doing my first TV show [Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara]. We've had a rapport since. When we started with rehearsals and reading, [our chemistry] was organic. But at the end of a scene, [we had to depict] a kiss. Visually, you know [how to depict it], but a kiss on the mic [was new for me] and I went all out. Mantra [director] burst out laughing, saying that it was not supposed to be a French kiss. Toning it down and making it subtle was a learning point.

The love triangle sees you competing with a woman for the attention of your ladylove. How did that feel?
That was hard. Behind this story is a sensitive conversation that the writers and creators are trying to put out there. Jai [his character] knew that Priya [Gupta's character] had a past, but when the past comes in the present, how do you deal with it? I am hopeful that the LGBTQiA+ community will hear this show and be proud of what we've created. We have done it in a humane, respectful, and beautiful way. The writing is so nuanced. At no point is Jai throwing daggers at Aisha; he is trying to understand the situation. For me, the story is interesting because a person can be drawn equally to different sexes. It is important to have that conversation.

Did you have anyone from the LGBTQiA+ community oversee the content?
We had representation in the writing team. The story was crafted sensitively and sensibly. I have a lot of friends from the community, and I can say this is one show that has been handled well. There is no over-the-top drama about different sexual orientations. We are still finding tools in mainstream media to normalise it. This show probably will hit the right notes.

What kind of conversation do you expect the show to start?
To be honest, it is an entertaining show; we are not here to start a movement. [Through the show], I learnt that because you might be heterosexual, it doesn't give you the right to judge someone else based on their choices. This is a beautiful way to put this conversation out there without really having a ‘conversation'. I am hoping people will talk about it on social media. That is the need of the hour. Popular networks still shy away from this [subject].

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