BMS.co.in Team gets candid with Nakshatra, a Film-maker, Actor and Activist

With his short films screenings worldwide, BMS.co.in Team gets candid with Nakshatra, a young Indian award winning filmmaker, actor, fiery gay right activist and a popular face in Indian LGBT community.

1) Tell us about your short films

I entered in film making as I was really frustrated by the wrong portrayal of queer community in Bollywood films. A proud queer person like me will never digest that but rather than complaining I decided to make a change by my own little ways. I work only on queer themes as it’s a small way of my contribution towards gay rights activism. I have worked till now on zero budget and one man army style model. Emotions and feelings are base of my film-making, technology is secondary. In the span of 1 year I made 4 short films and 5^th’ film is on its way to be released soon.

2) An actor, writer, film-maker, cook and activist: How do you manage to get into so many roles and execute the tasks effectively?

I don’t look to all these roles as professions or duties; I see these roles as passions or hobbies. When you enjoy doing something irrespective of factors like money or fame, you perform effectively. I enjoy what I do and I only do what I enjoy. I always keep myself open to try new things in life. Life gets hectic but there is no place for the word ‘busy’ in my dictionary.

3) How do you feel about your early success and the fame that you receiving worldwide?

It feels great especially when you never intended your journey to be that way. All like success, fame and I am not an exception. Things turn out to be special when people keep telling you that you can’t do it and you just smile, go ahead and prove yourself. May be I started well even before my career starts but I have a long way to go. While my eyes are focusing on sky my legs are holding ground strongly. I haven’t done something great but whatever little achievements I have earned make me feel that my life is worth.

4) Your message to the aspiring film-makers?

I often get messages and emails from youngsters like me that they have concept but don’t know how to start? I always observed one thing people have great concepts but they don’t make that first move of executing it in reality. Just pen down your thoughts on a paper or word document, research about your topic. Please don’t just lock your story inside you, let the world see and hear it. I strongly believe ‘Films are not about technology, they are about expressions.’

5) Your message to the youngsters?

Live your life on your terms, nobody can play your role better than yourself. Your color, cast, religion, gender, sexuality all these things don’t matter. What matter is your work and talent. Never sacrifice your dreams by being a victim of ‘emotional attyachar’. Balanced self esteem & self confidence are two essential personality traits to survive in this contemporary India.