Swara Bhaskar says people told her Sheer Qorma gave them strength to come out to their parents. Interview

Swara Bhaskar’s Sheer Qorma has won the actress the Best Supporting Actress award at the prestigious Soho London Independent Film Festival. The film, which touches upon LGBT relationships, has Swara play the role of Sitara. It also stars Shabana Azmi and Divya Dutta. In an exclusive conversation with IndiaToday.in, Swara talks about the struggle to make Sheer Qorma and the awards it has won. The actress also reveals that late actress Surekha Sikri was supposed to play the character essayed by Shabana Azmi.

Speaking about the time when Sheer Qorma was offered to her, Swara says, “I read the script and I was very struck by the simplicity and yet the universal quality of it. The fact that it was talking about a pertinent issue of our time and yet it was so universal that everyone can relate to it got me hooked. Two things struck out. One, pretty much everyone goes through life having at least once fallen like that in love. And two, everyone, whoever you maybe, you know the experience of feeling your parents don’t understand you and your problems. So, these are very universal emotions. And I saw the film beautifully married the particularity of the issue with universality of the emotion. And I heard Divya Dutta ji was playing the part opposite me, so I was really excited because she has been one of my favourite actors for the longest time.”

Describing her meeting with director Faraz Arif Ansari, Swara adds, “I remember meeting Faraz at a screening of some film of mine and I was like this guy is all heart. There was something which ran very honest in his intention and I was like, let’s take a leap of faith and just do it. I knew who he was, I had seen his work, he had given me a whole background and all and I was like, let’s do it.

Surekha Sikri was the director’s first choice for Shabana Azmi’s character. Swara says, “I got along with him (Faraz) and I was asking him who are we going to cast as the mother? And initially he wanted to cast Surekha Sikri ji. I think he had spoken to Shabana ji initially and then that hadn’t worked out. Surekha ji unfortunately had a stroke. So, we were kind of wondering what will happen. Then magically Shabanaji called him and asked what happened to the film you had sent me. He was like it is happening. She said she would do it. And when that happened, I told Faraz I have been feeling that this film has a higher purpose. It is a blessing that has been attached to this film and it is almost like this is a medium. It has to be made and it is going to be made well. It will touch the lives of so many more people than just us. And, I don’t know what it was, but it was a vague intuition. And I think that is what carried the film through me, that conviction.”

Watch the trailer of Sheer Qorma here:

Sheer Qorma has won several awards since its release. Talking about it, Swara says, “I am not surprised with the accolades the film is winning. I believe there is a force of good behind this film. I know it sounds strange. You will not believe the kind of messages I got when the trailer released. I literally had messages saying I am a queer person, I am gay, I am a lesbian and I have never come out to my parents and I saw the trailer and today I have come out to my parents, I got the strength. This kind of stuff is absolutely stunning to see. I feel honoured to be a part of this film. I am not surprised the film has won so many awards quite frankly. I don’t say this from a place of arrogance or of ego, but I am saying this from a place of very deep conviction.”

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