It's happy and gay time in showbiz

They don't walk, talk or live differently. But the LGBTQ community was given a different treatment in showbiz for long.

The representation is changing as there's larger acceptance of gay characters and stories. But there are still miles to go.

Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, lauded for telling the story of a Danish painter finding his sexual identity in "The Danish Girl", feels showbiz is going through an "important change", but it can't happen "quick enough".

"The job of cinema is to represent human lives and for so many years LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community have not had their story told.... This is just the tip of the iceberg at the moment," Redmayne told IANS.

British actor Ncuti Gatwa, who essays a gay character in Netflix show "Sex Education", is happy that stories are veering away from the struggle to come terms with one's sexuality.

Taking his role of Eric in the show as an example, Gatwa explained: "He is openly gay to his peers and his family and they all accept this. I found it interesting that his story didn't focus on his 'coming out' or his trying to find his sexuality."

In Hollywood, films like "Carol", "Moonlight", "Brokeback Mountain", "God's Own Country", "Call Me By Your Name", "Boy Erased" and "Love, Simon" stitch the gap. But as per a GLAAD report, the number of major studio movies with LGBT characters fell from 23 in 2016 to 14 in 2017. The number in 2018 is also expected to fall short of expectations.

Indian-American Nik Dodani, who has never veiled his own sexuality, said it is exciting to see the different shades of the queer community being reflected on-screen, although he would love to see more of it.

"The Danish Girl" author David Ebershoff said he continues to tell queer stories because "those in positions of privilege, must speak out on behalf of those who face discrimination and hatred every day".

In Bollywood, there was a time when gay characters were mocked at, stereotyped or used as comic relief with big entertainers like "Dostana", "Bol Bachchan", "Veere Di Wedding" and "Partner" leading the list of examples.

But the trend is shifting.

If there is a story of a professor who was fired for having an affair with a man in Manoj Bajpayee's "Aligarh", there is Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's portrayal of a man opening about his sexual orientation to his family and finding acceptance in "Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)".

In fact, Sonam Kapoor's lesbian drama "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga" is not only being touted as brave, but path-breaking too.

Not to forget films like "Fire", "My Brother.Nikhil", "Margarita with a Straw", "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd." or sub-plots in "Fashion", "Heroine" and "Dishoom".

Regina Cassandra, who plays Sonam's love interest in "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga", pointed out that Supreme Court's decision to repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalised homosexuality, came as a big push for all such stories.

"Evening Shadows" director Sridhar Rangayan believes that bringing LGBT stories to mainstream theatres for the larger audience to see the films with their families will remove prejudices and pave way for an equal society.

Director Onir said: "It's wonderful to have a sensitive representation... but we are yet to see if that is the trend and have many more."

Keshav Suri and Ayesha Kapoor, who have been fighting for the rights of homosexuals, say cinema plays an important role in making or breaking an image.

Suri added: "Stereotypes around gays have existed in all spheres and industries... I will like to say that there has been a conscious effort to change the depiction."

Second woman accuses Virginia deputy Governor of sexual assault

 A second woman has come forward with claims that she was sexually assaulted by Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax in 2000 when both were undergraduate students at Duke University, prompting top fellow Democrats to call for his resignation.

Maryland woman Meredith Watson said on Friday that she was sexually assaulted by Fairfax in a "premeditated and aggressive" attack in 2000 and demanded that he should step down immediately, the New York Times reported.

Watson's accusation came after Vanessa C. Tyson, a political science professor from California, said she was assaulted by Fairfax during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. 

Fairfax, who has denied both allegations, was facing a wave of calls for his resignation by Friday night. Democrats in the Virginia House and Senate urged him to step down, saying he "could no longer fulfil his duties to the commonwealth", as did the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, a powerful bloc within the General Assembly. 

Patrick Hope, a Democrat in the Virginia House, said he would introduce articles of impeachment on Monday if the Lieutenant Governor didn't resign.

Prominent Democrats who asked Fairfax to resign included Virginia's former Governor Terry McAuliffe and Senators Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris, all 2020 presidential candidates.

They were joined by Senator Tim Kaine, who said in a Twitter statement that the accusations against Fairfax "detail atrocious crimes".

Fairfax, however, vowed not to resign. 

"I demand a full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations. Such an investigation will confirm my account because I am telling the truth," he said.

'Sacred Games' was my genie: Kubbra Sait

The only perception that Kubbra Sait wanted to break out of was being seen as just an anchor. She says "Sacred Games", which put her in the spotlight with her role as a transgender, has been no less than a genie in her career as she has been on a roll ever since.

"I am really excited about the next year, which is kind of going to cement the fact that I am an actor," Kubbra told IANS in a tete-a-tete here.

She has Alankrita Shrivastava's "Dolly, Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare", "RK/RKay" by Rajat Kapoor and a cameo in "Gully Boy". In the digital content arena, Kubbra has a show on VOOT, apart from the web series "The Verdict - State Vs Nanavati" and TVF's "Tripling".

"It's a lovely and fulfilling year. There's diverse work, and I am quite excited. I remember when I finished 'Sacred Games', I said 'I want a film', and boom, I had a film. Then I said, 'I want another film', and boom, another film happened," she said.

Would she say "Sacred Games" was her genie?

"Yes, 'Sacred Games' was my genie," said Kubbra on the sidelines of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2019.

She said every project comes with its own set of challenges.

"I still consider myself as one learning the craft. So, it would be foolish to say it isn't challenging because I am working with new directors, new writers, new co-actors and it's such a fun process to be a part of this new journey of life," said the actress, who worked extensively as an anchor before taking the plunge into acting.

She feels a sense of being "nervously excited" about each one of her projects.

"If you don't feel the pressure, then it's not a privilege. So I am really enjoying the pressure."

Does she worry about people's perception about her?

"The thing is... perception is not my problem, perception is their problem. And the best part about perception is that there's always more than one. It's cool to have different perceptions.

"For the longest time, the perception I was battling was and wanted to break out of was 'Arre ye toh sirf anchor hai (She's just an anchor)'. So I think I broke one of the biggest perceptions and became an actor. Now I do what drives me. This is a good phase."

Kubbra is especially upbeat about "Gully Boy".

"I am playing me. The thing that got me to 'Sacred Games', that's me following my passion as an anchor, is what I am playing in 'Gully Boy'. I play this really cool part where I am a part of a rap battle. For one, it was wonderful for me to work with a director like Zoya Akhtar, to work with a maverick like actor Ranveer Singh, and just to work with our street hip-hop talents.

"For me, it was like hosting a live show and every minute was just pure entertainment. There were many times I lost myself in the role and forgot I was acting. I was me and that was wonderful," she said.

New partners in LDF eye Lok Sabha seats

Thiruvananthapuram: New members in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPI-M want to contest the Lok Sabha elections, posing fresh headaches for the Marxists.

Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014, the CPI-M contested 10 seats and won five. The CPI fought four and won one, Janata Dal-S lost the lone seat it contested and two of the five independents backed by the LDF won.

In December last year, the LDF inducted four new parties: Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), Indian National League, Democratic Kerala Congress and Kerala Congress (Pillai).

Although not all four allies will be allowed to contest, the chances of giving a seat each to LJD and Democratic Kerala Congress is high, given their strongholds.

The LJD is led by media baron M.P. Veerendra Kumar.

Kumar left the LDF just before the 2009 Lok Sabha election after the CPI-M failed to give him his Kozhikode seat to defend.

At that time he led the Janata Dal-S. He and his supporters moved towards the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and he formed the Socialist Janata Dal.

Last year, unhappy with the UDF, he quit and expressed his willingness to rejoin the LDF. He was re-admitted after he formed the LJD, with Sharad Yadav leading it nationally.

Kumar has told the LDF that his party wants to contest from Wayanad or Badagara.

"Do you think any political party will say they do not want a seat to contest?" asked Kumar's son M.P. Shreyams Kumar, a former two-time legislator, when asked about their party's stand.

The Democratic Kerala Congress has also sought one seat: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam or Idukki.

In 2014, the CPI-M sprang a surprise when they fielded ace comedian and character actor Innocent, from Chalakudy seat as an independent candidate and he turned giant killer when he trounced Congress veteran and sitting Lok Sabha member P.C. Chacko.

Likewise, their candidate Joyce George, another independent, won from Idukki.

While Innocent is most unlikely to be fielded for a second time, George wants a second term.

Speaking to IANS, LDF convener A. Vijayaraghavan said: "We have a policy of discussing all this in the LDF and then with parties on a one-to-one basis. Our discussions begin next week. We will be announcing our candidates in the first week of March."

Unprecedented centre-state confrontation: Mamata resorts to sit-in after CBI-police face-off

In a virtual no-holds-barred clash between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central and West Bengal governments, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee began a sit-in here on Sunday accusing the Centre of attempting a coup to destabilise the state after an ugly face-off between the CBI and the state police over the federal probe agency's bid to grill city police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the Ponzi scheme scam case.

The showdown started after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers showed up near the official residence of Kumar, a day after CBI sources said they were "looking for" him, and claimed he might be arrested if he failed to respond to the CBI's summons.

Kumar, a 1989 batch IPS officer, headed the Special Investigation Team set up by the Banerjee government after the Saradha ponzi scam came to light in 2013, a year before the CBI took up the case on Supreme Court order.

On Sunday, the evening drama began as a group of CBI officers approached Kumar's Loudon Street residence, but were stopped by city police personnel, who also forcibly took five federal probe agency officers to a police station.

The Chief Minister, who had extended support to Kumar earlier in the day, rushed to his house and was closeted with other top officers, including state police Director General Virendra.

A visibly angry Banerjee came out of Kumar's residence after over an hour, and alleged that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was giving instructions to the CBI at the behest of Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.

"I am sorry to say National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is giving instructions to the agency. He is implementing what PM Narendra Modi is asking for," Banerjee said.

"I will start a dharna (sit-in) at Dharamtala area to save institutions, constitution and the federal structure of the country. This is a satyagraha," she said.

Minutes after she began the sit-in, the police commissioner and other officers, state ministers and Trinamool leaders joined her, and scores of ruling party activists converged in the area from Kolkata and nearby districts.

Banerjee said a meeting of the state cabinet would be held on Monday at the sit-in venue to ratify the state budget slated to be presented during the day.

Banerjee said she would skip Assembly proceedings, but the House would continue as usual.

Banerjee also alleged CBI officers came to Kumar's residence without any search warrant to conduct a secret operation.

"You are coming to the commissioner's residence without any warrant to conduct a secret operation. It is (nothing but) instruction from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah."

"There is a constitutional break-down and they are trying to organise a coup to destabilise the state. They are trying to run a parallel administration," she told reporters outside the Commissioner's house.

"I have come here because I have a constitutional and personal responsibility to give protection to my forces," she said.

In a rare exhortation, Banerjee appealed to all security forces to be together and condemn the attitude of the Modi government.

She called the developments a 'blow' to the country's federal structure, and claimed that the Supreme Court in its judgement had said both central and state agencies can discuss mutually if they have any queries.

Addressing the media at the sit-in venue, Banerjee said a large number of opposition leaders have telephoned her to back her movement.

"Leaders of various opposition parties, including Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Mayawati (BSP), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Omar Abdullah (NC), Ahmed Patel (Congress) and M K Stalin (DMK), have called me to extend their solidarity and support," she said.

It all began around 6 p.m., when CBI officers, led by its deputy superintendent Tathagata Bardhan, were spotted near Kumar's residence, but within a few minutes some senior Kolkata police officers rushed there and were seen having animated discussions with the federal team.

A little later, another CBI team reached the spot.

Meanwhile, a strong city police team was seen near the CBI's state headquarters at CGO Complex in the Salt Lake area. However, they left after a couple of hours.

The drama intensified near Kumar's residence around 7 p.m., as three deputy commissioners of city police and some officers of the anti-rowdy section reached the spot, following which there ensued a scuffle between the CBI team and cops.

The five CBI officers including Bardhan were bundled into three vehicles and taken to the Shakespeare Sarani police station.

They were released later in the night.

CBI Joint Director Pankaj Srivastava said his officers went to Kumar's residence to question him, but were stopped from entering the house.

Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force troopers have been deployed at the CBI headquarters at CGO Complex as also at its city office Nizam Palace.

Trinamool spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said his party would raise the matter in Parliament on Monday.

Terror in J&K now being fought effectively: Modi

Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is now being fought effectively, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

"Our security forces including the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been battling terrorism," Modi told a public rally in Vijaypur town in Samba district on his arrival here after visiting the Ladakh region.

"I salute martyrs like Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, Aurangzeb Khan and others," he added. "Terrorism is now being effectively dealt with in the state."

Modi said the government was building 14,000 bunkers for the safety of people living along the border with Pakistan to escape frequent firing and shelling by Pakistani forces.

The border residents, he said, led "a tough life".

Modi also spoke about the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.

"The Central government is committed to protect the honour and dignity of our Kashmiri Pandit brothers. They have suffered due to terrorism. 

"This pain has always been in my heart. The promised 3,000 jobs for the Kashmiri Pandits have been rolled out.

"We are committed to democracy. The 70 per cent voter turnout in the recently held Panchayat elections is a victory for the people and the state administration."

Not felt sexy for a while during warrior film: Kangana Ranaut

Actress Kangana Ranaut says in pursuit of making her warrior film 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi', which is packed full of gravity defying stunts, she hasn't felt "sexy" for a while.

But a welcome change came for Kangana when she dolled up in a feminine and elegant 'lehenga choli' by Anushree Reddy at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer/Resort 2019 here on Saturday.

At a post-show conference, the actress told the media: "First of all, if I cough and it looks like I am going to die, please excuse me because I have got a very bad viral.

"I love walking the ramp, and for Anushree... I love her clothes. I was telling her that for a while when I was doing this warrior film, I've not felt sexy for a while.

"The way she has dressed me up and the way she has done my hair, I feel very polished, chic and sexy at the same time. I am very happy to be here, and I just don't want to spread the cough virus around."

Kangana was also happy to talk about the love and appreciation that has come her way for 'Manikarnika...', but she refused to answer queries surrounding the controversies over the film out of respect for her commitment as a showstopper.

On woman power, Kangana, who is known for being fearless in expressing her views, said: "Women are very strong and that's why they do things which test them emotionally.

"Strength is not about muscles, because we are not in the age where we have to go and hunt. In today's time and age, what is your emotional strength, what is your mental strength... that is true strength."