Abhishek Kapoor: We needed a seasoned performer to play the part

Taking baby steps to normalise communication about the transgender community, Abhishek backs decision to cast Vaani in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Not many filmmakers would have had the courage to showcase a love story of a transgender person. Abhishek Kapoor now heaves a sigh of relief as his Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui gets a thumbs up from the audience, but he acknowledges that the film was a difficult one to make as it could have garnered mixed reactions. “It is a sensitive subject and one can end up offending the community. I took the mainstream approach to normalise conversations about them,” says the filmmaker of the Vaani Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer.

The romantic drama flips the boy-meets-girl storyline when Maanvi’s lover comes to the realisation that his love interest is a trans woman. Did he think of casting a trans woman for the part? “The mission was to not only make a film, but also deliver a message that reached far and wide; and to bring about change. With the purest [intention], it would have [been ideal] to cast a trans woman, but we also needed a seasoned performer to play the part. Vaani had the right amount of experience [as an actor].”

Only the right talent could have appropriately communicated the required message, says Abhishek, who believes that acceptance is the first step towards normalisation. “Once normalised, you can make films with trans people. But, you have to start the conversation first.” 

The filmmaker reveals he is “in the process” of holding a special screening for members of the trans community.

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