This Article is From Nov 23, 2014

When Arjun Mathur's Sexuality Became a Talking Point

When Arjun Mathur's Sexuality Became a Talking Point

Arjun Mathur and Monica Dogra in a still from Fireflies

Mumbai:

Damaging as it may sound, Arjun Mathur started his career with two back-to-back gay parts that quickly became a talking point in the film industry.

"I did two short film on AIDS where I played gay characters. In Farhan Akhtar's film (Positive), I was Boman and Shabana Azmi's son. In Mira Nair's short film (Migration), I was Irrfan Khan's lover.

"I have to admit that playing two gay characters at the start of my career could have gone against me. I even played a gay hustler in Onir's I Am. This is very conservative industry. People believe what they see," he said.

In a role reversal, Arjun goes all the way to the other end in his next film. Entitled Couching Tiger Mannu, it features Arjun as a guy who goes couch surfing.

"It's the role of a guy who travels to different countries and stays in with locals as a guest hoping to score with foreign girls," said the actor, who has also featured in films like Luck By Chance and Fireflies.

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