Apurva Asrani recently put up an Instagram post in which he wrote about a distressing homophobic incident that happened at his north Goa residence. In the post, he mentioned how a drunk neighbour hurled slurs at him and his partner Neeraj (Kadamboor) over a parking dispute. “He called Neeraj and me dirty homos, freaks, hijras – and stormed around the complex hurling slurs at us… trying to shame us for being gay,” Apurva wrote on Instagram.
From the high-octane world of Bollywood to the calm shores of Goa, writer-editor Apurva Asrani’s story is no longer just about the films he has written, but the life he has rewritten. The year 2018 turned out to be life-changing for the ‘Aligarh’ writer, who woke up one morning unable to control half his face. He was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a partial facial paralysis condition which may affect 40 per 100,000 people annually. That one experience significantly changed the way he chose to live. He no longer “hides” his face. In his 40s, he is enjoying his slow life in Goa with his partner, and their pets -3 cats and 2 dogs. He has given up gluten and alcohol – but is busy getting “high on life”. He is more discerning about the projects he says “yes” to. And most importantly and proudly, he has been prioritizing his health and wellness.
In 2018, the Supreme Court decriminalised Section 377. So, no one could be put behind bars for being gay. But then what? Decriminalisation was only the first fight. The demand for respect and equal rights is still ongoing. While the Pride flag is often used by brands to show support — especially during the Pride Month — basic rights are still denied.
