Kaizad Gustad returns to filmmaking after more than a decade with Lara and Poppy, a pioneering love story centered on two transgender characters, which had its world premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
The film marks a major shift in the representation of transgender stories in Indian cinema, casting real-life transgender actors Surji Rajkhowa and Veer Singh in lead roles. The story follows Lara, a trans woman, and Poppy, a trans man, as they fall in love while going through their own transitions.
Gustad, best known for the 1998 hit Bombay Boys, was inspired for the project after meeting Radzikova five years ago. “I met Surj Rajkova by chance and was completely captivated by her personality, charisma and camera-friendliness,” says Gustad. “I wanted to tell a story where gender no longer plays a role after I meet Sulji.”
The central hubris arose from a simple but unexplored premise. “What happens when a man who is becoming a woman meets a woman who is becoming a man?” Gustad says. “How does the whole gender relationship develop? If a love story comes out of it, how does it blossom? As far as I know, that hasn’t been told anywhere in the world.”
The filmmaker admits that he was initially reluctant to approach the project as a cisgender straight man. “I knew nothing about the space, so I was very nervous about getting it right from the start,” he says. The project underwent years of research and community consultation before filming.
Producer Bobby Bedi, who has previously backed groundbreaking films such as Bandit Queen and Fire, sees the project as addressing a critical gap between legal acceptance and social reality in India. “India accepted the third gender a while ago. We accepted it constitutionally and legally, but we haven’t really accepted it yet,” Bedi said. “We see people looking for work and not finding work.”
Bedi stresses that the film aims to reach beyond the converted audience. “This film was not made for a specific LGBTQ audience. They’re already part of the converts. We’re preaching to the non-converts, the general public,” he says.
The casting was a rare opportunity for Rajkhowa, a performance artist who moved to Mumbai from Bhopal. “I definitely don’t qualify as a woman in the classical sense,” Radzikova says. “So for me, being considered was paramount.”
Singh, who is currently transitioning, talks about the personal resonance of the role. “This story was really personal to me,” says Singh. “For India to see a production like this and for people like us to be able to play ourselves on the big screen is really big because you don’t get opportunities like this very often.”
The project brought together a particularly queer-inclusive staff, including two non-binary costume designers, a non-binary behind-the-scenes photographer, and a transgender makeup artist. “It was a very safe space for us,” Singh says.
Both actors differentiate between their representation and previous depictions of transgender characters in Indian cinema. Radzikova mentions performer Bobby Darin as an early figure who was often the subject of ridicule. “She was something to be laughed at and made fun of,” Radzikova said. The actors hope Lara and Poppy will portray transgender characters as fully realized human beings who experience love, fashion, and everyday emotions.
Bedi has decided to release the film theatrically in India. “I don’t believe this will go directly to the streamer’s audience,” he says. “We believe in giving viewers the opportunity to choose.” He is already in talks with distributors and exhibitors.
The film is being developed at international screenwriting lab Stories That Travel to ensure a global response, and Bedi plans to submit it to festivals to raise awareness of India’s stance on transgender issues. “It’s important for the world to know where we are in this regard. We are one-sixth of the world,” he says.
Despite progress in some areas, both Gustad and Bedi acknowledge that the global political climate surrounding transgender rights is becoming increasingly difficult. “When I started writing this seven or eight years ago, it was more well received,” Gustad said, referring specifically to the rollback in the United States.
However, filmmakers continue to focus on universal themes. “At the end of the day, to me, this is a human story. These two people are human beings first and foremost, and then they’re either male or female,” Gustad says. “Rather, the question is whether two people have the right to love each other.”
Gustad has already started pre-production on his next project with Bedi titled ‘Auto Bhagwan’. The project is described as a real-time thriller set in a rickshaw on the last day of Ganpati festival.
Hinman Dhamija served as the cinematographer, Andrew Beretti was in charge of the sound design, and Ankur Tewari was the music director. Art and production design is by Mikli Tejaceno, with Anthony Pandy serving as first assistant director. Zaid Ali Khan will serve as associate producer, while Varsha Bedi and Hinman Dhamija will serve as co-producers along with producer Bobby Bedi.
