Very rarely do we come across people who change our point of view on something completely. That’s what young director did to me. Roopa is the director of a much-anticipated web-series which happens to be one of its kinds. The web series is called, ‘The Other Love Story’ and it narrates the love story between two young girls.

We barely get to see movies made on Lesbian love. I mean we had, ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ and ‘Carol’ although we don’t get to see that in India.

We had a Skype call scheduled, but we had to move to a phone call, which I am glad happened. While we were on the phone, I could hear the metro city traffic in the background which explained the change in the medium of conversation. I also noticed how fluent Roopa sounded in Kannada.

Alrighty-roo, let’s move on.

 

Me: When I saw the trailer, I noticed how you’d kept the two girls very simple looking and giving either the stereotypically ditzy or butch role. What other stereotypes are you trying to break with your show?

Roopa: Well, I don’t really want to break or combat any stereotype. The Other Love Story is a very basic and organic tale of two girls who have no reference point to understand why they’re attracted to each other.

Me: How will the series show woman power? 

Roopa: Well it is not out in the open, but we do have undertones of strong independent women. We show the women earning in the family and mothers heading the household.

Yes, Finally! Now I really want to watch this series!

Me: So how did you come around to writing this story?

Roopa: I identify myself as a crazy artist. I feel like this story chose me. It took me a year and a half to get this story into action, and now when I re-watch some of the episodes myself, I still feel butterflies in my stomach. It is a very pure and organic love story.

I call it the creativity ka keeda, lulz.

 Me: What struggles of the middle-class LGBT community will you highlight in the web series?

 Roopa: Well, obviously there will be drama on the family’s end of acceptance, but it is majorly about the girls accepting what is happening to them. It is a direct journey to find love.

Feels, I am ready for you!

Me: What do you wish to change in the society with your web series?

Roopa: All I want is for the society to watch and realize that it is normal for people of the same sex to fall in love. I will be very happy even if I hear someone say, ‘It is okay for that to happen. Just let them live their life’. Ever since the teaser is out, random girls from India are sending me messages saying that they are very happy to have someone finally representing them.

Me: Who is your LGBT icon?

 Roopa: Do people actually have LGBT icons? I honestly don’t like labeling people by sexuality. But if you ask me my favorite icon is, I would say Ellen DeGeneres keeping her sexuality aside. I see her as a human above all other factors.

OMG! I love Ellen too! [Heart eye emojis]

Me: What is your love story like? *wink wink*

Roopa: Um… it was life altering. Our love story was like how you would see in the 90s with love letters and greeting cards.

Me: So are you seeing someone now?

Roopa: Well, that is a personal question but, no I am not seeing anyone at the moment. I am committed and married to the cinema.

Me: And what is your favorite LGBT movie?

Roopa: I’ve seen a lot of LGBT movies. I am a movie buff. But my favorite was Fingersmith. It was an HBO production. It’s not a movie but a TV series, and it is based in the 1800s, and I love everything about that film from the story to the cinematography.

Me: Any interesting behind the scenes moments?

 Roopa: Honestly, so many! We were on a budget, so it was hard to get some resources. So for one scene, we had to create rain. We went and bought some pipes. We poked some holes in them and used someone’s water tank to create rain. It was so much fun!

Me: How many women are there on your team?

Roopa: Well, I can’t count how many are there, but they’re lesser in number.  

Me: Give us one reason why we should watch your show?

 Roopa: I have many so I will give you three instead of one *laughs *. One, a love story like this has never been portrayed in Indian cinema and two, it will be refreshing for all those who have grown up in the 90s and third, anyone who’s been in love will be able to resonate with the story. As for the people who haven’t been in love yet, will have more hope for love.

Me: Family honor stands in the way of individual choices. Does your show highlight that? 

Roopa: Definitely, because the story is set in the 90s. As for now, I think parents and children can listen and talk it out. In the 90s, you could not discuss it openly, but you could always find ways to make it work out for you.

Me: Lesbians are not as accepted as gay men in the Indian society. How can we improve the situation? 

Roopa: First of all, we need to get rid of labels. You are a human being above all, and if you want to be identified by something like your sexuality, then something is wrong with you.  Being identified as a human is all that should matter. It is not two women or men falling in love, but two humans who’ve fallen in love.  

That right there is what change my point of view as a Pro-LGBT person.

 Me: How honest will your web series be about sex?

Roopa: Well, there are going to be intimate scenes of course. People of all sexualities want to make love, and that’s what the series will show.

 Me: How did your family react to the idea of a same-sex love story?

 Roopa: They’re still digesting it *laughs *.

 Me: Any advice for teenagers on how to discuss sexuality with their parents?

Roopa: Well, it should be a two-way communicative relationship between the parents and children. If the parents want to know what is going on with their child, they need to be that open to the conversation and vice-versa.

Me: Have you ever been attracted to a woman?

Roopa: I believe that we are all born bisexual because we are created by two beings of different genders. So yes, I have been attracted to women.

 Me: What’s the first feature that attracts you to a person?

 Roopa: Eyes. And smile. I cannot notice anything beyond that in the first meeting.

 Smile. Always the smile.

 Me: India shows same sex in mythological stories and temples. What is stopping us from being accepting now?

 Roopa: Well, we have the rich cultural history, and when we started protecting it while we were being invaded, we started culturally closing ourselves. We used to be beings of love, but when we had to survive, we became beings of fear. To survive, we started procreating and forcing homosexuality to end. This is a phase that comes and leaves. We need to concentrate on bigger things like there are millions out there dying of hunger!

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