Amit Varma will play the role of Dr. Jairaj in Nishabd, an upcoming 10-episode series on Atrangii, which has episodes on LGBTQ community. It is being produced and co-directed by Mitu. The actor shares that he had no inhibition in working on such a subject.
“After hearing the narration Mitu gave me, I wasn’t apprehensive even one bit. I am anyway in favour of making people aware and accepting about these things. What matters is the message should be treated in the right way rather than just doing it for the sake of it,” he says.
Talking about his experience of working with Mitu and Positive Thinkerz, Amit adds that it has been a wonderful and learning stint. “Mitu and I go back a long way. When I was shooting for my first show Hotel Kingston she had offered me some shows which didn’t work out because I was busy. So I have known her for years and we have been in touch all this time. I have seen very few women in our industry with the kind of passion and enthusiasm that Mitu has and that shows in her work and how she is. She calls a spade a spade and I really admire her for that. She’s got a great sense of direction and performance if one surrenders to her process. We need production houses like Positive thinkerz who take the right plunges and risks which are required in these times,” he says.
June is the pride month, ask if he feels this is the right time to do a series like this and if that is the reason he said yes to it, Amit explains his point. “Well it’s called Pride for a reason, so how can I not take pride in this message given to people through our show. I still feel a lot of people agree and understand but they don’t come out because of our society not being aware and understanding so these kinds of shows are very important to break the judgemental barrier. I think conversations around same sex relations should start now. I know so many of them and I’m very comfortable discussing it with them. They also need to talk it out and if we all are judgemental about it then we are creating a big emotional breakdown for them, they will be open if our minds are open,” he explains.
A generational shift is happening as far as programming is happening. In fact, this is probably the first time a series Nishabd is being made for TV. “I feel great and blessed. This might be the shift required and there always is that one show and person who starts it and makes way for others to be open about it, so it’s a privilege for me to spread this awareness,” he concludes.
