It isn’t surprising that it took Ayushmann Khurrana’s star power to bring a story about the transgender community into mainstream consciousness. Headlining Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui — a love story between the brash body-builder Manu and trans woman Maanvi — was as much a risky gamble as it was a brave move. The gamble, like most of the actor’s recent ones, has paid off. Director Abhishek Kapoor’s film has been widely appreciated, with critics applauding Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor’s performances.

For Khurrana, the film’s success indicates that the Indian audience is ready for progressive content. “Progressive films can only be made in a progressive society. The response that Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is getting [reflects] the fact that people want to see more disruptive content. I am thankful to [the audience] for being open-minded to see films about a gay couple in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan [2020], and a cis-het man and a trans-woman’s love story in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui,” says the actor.