‘Indians make a big deal about sex’

Maradona Rebello is a part of one of the most controversial and bold movies made to date by Bollywood.

Directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyay, the film sees the young actor strip naked in front of Lillete Dubey and even cut off his manhood. We grilled the actor in a rapid fire...

Q: Don’t you think you have too bold a movie early in your career?
A: It is a path-breaking film but to be honest it's not as if I was flooded with offers. I was lucky to get this film though it did seem a little too bold for my liking. Given the demands of the script, I wasn't sure whether I should do it. I spoke to my folks and they were okay. It's not everyday that a 21-year-old with no film connection or sugar daddy to back him bags an offer to play the lead in a film that has so many known faces including Bipasha.

Q: The film also has you fantasizing about Bipasha Basu. Is there any Indian actress that you have actually fantasized about?
A: My film may not suggest so, but I'm a little too prudish to answer that question. Besides, I'm not sure whether my answer will flatter or embarrass the women in question.  But suffice to say that Bollywood is full to the brim with actresses that set your blood racing. I personally believe that Indian actresses are definitely more sexy — there's something about their earthy appeal that distinguishes them from the rest.

Q: Do you think sex is overated in India with all the hoopla and media attention it gets?
A: Yes, we Indians make a big deal about sex. I know this is a cliche, but the truth is, we are a nation of 1.1 billion. That means a lot of people are having a lot of sex. So why be so coy and pretend that kids drop down from the skies. And since it’s better to be safe than sorry, I think the big talk about the birds and bees should take place sooner rather than later. Kids today are smarter than you give them the benefit of — if they know the F-word, they surely know the rest.

Q:  So you’re all for sexual freedom on celluloid?
A: Indian filmmakers have explored sex as a subject on celluloid, but it takes an awful lot of guts to go the long haul. There's always a fear that the censors will snip it. Even worse, we have the moral police that will happily tear down posters and create a tamasha. It may give you publicity, but no producer wants his shows cancelled.

With Dibakar Banerjee’s new film and Pankh, I hope audiences, censors and the culture vultures open up to films we all like to watch in private. Let's not be hypocritical here and accept sexuality, sexualness and their depiction since they are an inherent part of our everyday lives.