Latest news with #SharmilaTagore
Mint
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Why quality mental health support is still some ways away for the LGBTQIA+ community
In recent times, we've had movies like Kaathal – The Core (Malayalam) and Gulmohar (Hindi) that had prominent actors like Mammootty and Sharmila Tagore play gay and lesbian characters, respectively. The mental struggle these characters face has been portrayed adeptly too– Mathew's resistance to divorce his wife and Kusum's eagerness to let go of the home her husband built, in their own way showcase denial and defiance. In reality, however, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face difficulties when it comes to address mental health issues. Based on conversations Lounge has had with members from the community, 'accessibility" and 'sensitisation" seem to be the main problems here. 'Queerness continues to be pathologized here even by mental health practitioners. The idea that it is something that needs to be 'cured' or 'treated' is still prevalent. Can you imagine how difficult it then becomes to even take those initial steps for help when you realise that these so-called 'safe' spaces themselves can be dehumanising?" wonders Srishti Pandey, 26, who identifies herself as asexual. 'Queer people, especially outside the major metros, face glaringly hostile environments and harmful, violent and illegal attempts to 'cure' queer people. There is little safety available in mental healthcare institutes, and often, it is quasi-religious places that offer anything close to care and they can be very hurtful places," says Bengaluru-based counsellor Mahesh Natarajan who identifies as gay. Pandey, who has tried therapy and found it helpful, shares that while her family and friends have been supportive, she has received biased reactions from others. Currently residing in England, she also reveals that life as an asexual has been relatively easier for her in the UK. 'Everyone faces challenges, it is just that the intensity with which members from the community face them is more, and the resources available for us are less," notes Aryan Somaiya, a Goa-based psychotherapist who identifies as a transman. As 34-year-old scientist Soham (last name withheld upon request) from Bengaluru points out, therapy can be expensive and out of reach for several people in the queer community. Listing out the issues the LGBTQ+ community faces while seeking therapy, he says, 'There are many people who prefer online consultations because going in person would mean taking time off work. Then there's the question of whether the therapist you are seeing has knowledge about the queer community, knows people who belong to the community, and is sensitised to the issues faced by queer people." But that's not all. In a society where being comfortable in your skin is still a struggle for many, those belonging to the queer community have it doubly hard. 'I know of quite a few people, myself included, who tend to, at times, lead double lives," says Edwin Daniel, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur who is gay. 'I have been lucky, because most of my colleagues and co-workers are comfortable with my identity. But, when there's a business meeting or I am meeting someone new for work-related purposes, I tend to do 'straight acting' or regulate the way I behave to meet heteronormative roles. But, for a lot of my counterparts, it is one kind of life from 10-7, and another life after 7pm," he adds. HAMPERED BY THE LACK OF A STABLE SOCIAL STRUCTURE According to Daniel, one of the main problems the LGBTQ+ community in India faces is the absence of a stable social structure. 'Since same-sex marriages aren't legal in India, unlike heterosexual people, we don't have milestones like getting married and having kids. This tends to take a huge toll on our mental health," he says. Soham concurs. 'Since these milestones are absent for us, the onus of creating a structure falls on us," he says. He also resonates with Daniel when he says that it is quite difficult, yet important, to find a therapist who is queer-sensitised and understands problems of the community. Finding that therapist, as Daniel notes, is not easy. 'One goes through numerous therapists, before landing on someone who understands you and suits your needs." After seeking therapy for five years, he reveals that he's only recently found a counsellor who 'understands me, what I am going through and helps me accordingly." Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Prasenjit Chaudhari, 41, knew he was gay right from childhood but chose to hide it in a bid to belong, fit in. 'This attempt to hide your identity takes a toll on your mental health and the scars remain for a long time," he confesses. This is precisely why finding the right therapist becomes crucial, he says, but in a city where the community is small that can pose a problem. 'I came to Bengaluru in 2007 and have literally watched the community grow. I know nearly everyone in the community, and so, even if I do find a therapist who is queer, I know them on a personal level and that is something I try to avoid." As a therapist, Natarajan says that he chooses to not counsel members from the community who are closely connected to his personal life. But for those who are strictly his clients, he says, 'We protect the client's privacy and confidentiality as fully as possible. It helps for the client to know that we are part of the community and not too distant from their realities." According to Natarajan, a typical green flag when seeking a therapist from within the community is to check if they are well regarded for their general ethical practice. It's a big no-no if they have in any way breached client confidentiality or canvassed for influence. A good way to verify a therapist's ability is to reach out to (other members from the community) who have previously sought help from the said therapist, Natarajan advises. The conversations do get louder every year during Pride Month in June but they barely scratch the surface. Issues like chem sex that can prove fatal to queer members are not explored in depth. 'While chem sex is common for everyone, it is a deeper issue for the queer community. It is not just loneliness that makes it a problem. Lack of safe resources, worries of being outed, health concerns, abandonment by family and other issues are all part of the problem," Natarajan says. There's a lot of distance to be covered for sure, but every individual Lounge spoke to clings to glimmers of hope. 'The main thing that affects mental health for the LGBTQ community is social stigma and the feeling of being 'othered'. With greater integration and community building, people will flourish," Natarajan says. 'Broadly speaking, I want therapy to be easily accessible and destigmatized. And most importantly, I want (more) resources for patients and counsellors who are catering to LGBTQ folks because our struggles are widely different," says Daniel. Sumitra Nair is an independent journalist based in Kochi.
NDTV
15 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Sharmila Tagore Reacts To Supreme Court Order On Stray Dogs In Delhi NCR: "It's Like Door Closing On The Voiceless Of Our Society"
New Delhi: Film veteran Sharmila Tagore is the latest celebrity who raised her voice against the Suprme Court ruling t o relocate the stray dogs from Delhi NCR. Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson of the NCP, shared a video on X in which Sharmila Tagore urged for a nuanced and compassionate dealing of the matter. What's Happening Sharmila Tagore, who has a house in Delhi, said, "Today, we are facing a crisis of conscience. The recent Supreme Court decision is like a door closing on the voiceless and defenceless of our society. I wish the safety and sanctity of life was at the heart of the judgement." "I wish a more nuanced and calibrated approach had been taken towards the systemic flaws that are at the root of the so-called dog menace. In silencing those who cannot protect themselves, we risk losing something essential within ourselves," Sharmila Tagore said. She urged the government to reconsider the decision, "This need of experience over sympathy has caused tremendous harm. I hope and pray the Supreme Court will try and find a fine balance embedded in justice." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) In the wake of a widespread outrage, Chief Justice BR Gavai agreed to review the Court's order on August 13. Welcoming the decision of reconsidering, Randeep Hooda wrote on social media, "So glad to hear that the Honourable CJI has agreed to look into the ruling about stray dogs in NCR. Passing a law and implementing a law should be, firstly, humane - and secondly, the infrastructure and sensitivity need to be taken care of." Background On August 11, The Supreme Court ordered to relocate stray dogs from Delhi-NCR. The Supreme Court ordered the authorities to keep the animals in shelters, following rising cases of dog attacks and an alarming rabies toll. Bollywood celebrities like John Abraham, Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Raveena Tandon and others reacted to the decision with strong words. In a letter to the Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, John Abraham wrote, "It has been widely reported that a recent judgment by the Division Bench comprising Hon'ble Justice JB Pardiwala and Hon'ble Justice R. Mahadevan has directed the removal of all stray dogs in Delhi from public spaces to shelters or far-off areas. "I hope you will agree that these are not "strays" but community dogs-respected and loved by many, and very much Delhiites in their own right, having lived in the region as neighbours to humans for generations." An excerpt from Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan's note read, "They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat. Today, the Supreme Court says -- take every stray dog off the streets of Delhi-NCR and lock them away. No sunlight. No freedom. No familiar faces greet every morning." Under the court's August 11 directions, civic authorities in Delhi-NCR, especially Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad, have been instructed to create a 5,000-capacity shelter for stray dogs, equipped with vaccination and sterilisation facilities, within six to eight weeks. CCTV monitoring is also to be implemented and a helpline number is to be launched for reporting dog bite cases.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sharmila Tagore REACTS to Supreme Court ruling on relocating Delhi-NCR stray dogs: 'The decision is like door closing on voiceless...'
Sharmila Tagore and Randeep Hooda expressed worries about the Supreme Court's order to move stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters. They advocated for a humane, balanced approach. Tagore called the decision a closure for the voiceless. Hooda welcomed the court's reconsideration. Both stars suggested long-term solutions like neutering and adoption. Tagore recently starred in 'Puratawn'. Hooda's latest film is 'Jaat'. Sharmila Tagore and Randeep Hooda have voiced their concerns over the Supreme Court 's recent directive to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelter homes. Both stars urged a more humane and balanced approach, calling for long-term solutions that protect both people and animals while addressing the so-called 'dog menace. ' 'Decision is like a door closing on the voiceless' In a video shared by Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson of the NCP, on X, the veteran actress said, 'Today, we are facing a crisis of conscience. The recent Supreme Court decision is like a door closing on the voiceless and defenceless of our society. I wish the safety and sanctity of life was at the heart of the judgement.' Calling for a more balanced response, she added, 'I wish a more nuanced and calibrated approach had been taken towards the systemic flaws that are at the root of the so-called dog menace. In silencing those who cannot protect themselves, we risk losing something essential within ourselves.' Appeal to reconsider the order She urged the government to reconsider the order, saying, 'This need of experience over sympathy has caused tremendous harm. I hope and pray the Supreme Court will try and find a fine balance embedded in justice.' Responding to the widespread criticism, Chief Justice Gavai agreed on 13 August, to review the Court's order. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Randeep Hooda weighs in Reacting to this development, actor Randeep Hooda welcomed the reconsideration, tweeting: "So glad to hear that the Honourable CJI has agreed to look into the ruling about stray dogs in NCR. Passing a law and implementing a law should be, firstly, humane — and secondly, the infrastructure and sensitivity need to be taken care of." He acknowledged the complexity of the issue, "Are stray dogs our collective community humanitarian responsibility? Yes. Can they be a menace? Yes. I love animals — but will I be able to justify it to a family that has lost a loved one to rabies or serious injuries? No." Long-term solutions recommended Randeep warned that mass impounding is neither practical nor humane. He recommended long-term measures such as large-scale, repeated neutering, relocating aggressive dog packs, and encouraging adoption. Sharmila Tagore recently returned to Bengali cinema with Puratawn, released in April and directed by Suman Ghosh, marking her first Bengali film in 14 years. Randeep Hooda's latest release is the action thriller Jaat (April 10), where he plays the antagonist opposite Sunny Deol .
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Door closing on the voiceless': Sharmila Tagore speaks out on Supreme Court's order to move Delhi-NCR stray dogs
The Supreme Court's recent directive to move all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelter homes has sparked widespread backlash, with citizens and celebrities alike voicing concern over the decision. Among them is veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, who made a rare public statement urging compassion and nuance in dealing with the issue. Sharmila Tagore spoke over the Supreme Court's directive on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, advocating for more nuanced and calibrated approach.(PTI) In a video shared by Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson of the NCP, on X, Sharmila Tagore said, 'Today, we are facing a crisis of conscience. The recent Supreme Court decision is like a door closing on the voiceless and defenceless of our society. I wish the safety and sanctity of life was at the heart of the judgement.' Calling for a more balanced response, she added, 'I wish a more nuanced and calibrated approach had been taken towards the systemic flaws that are at the root of the so-called dog menace. In silencing those who cannot protect themselves, we risk losing something essential within ourselves.' She urged the government to reconsider the order, saying, 'This need of experience over sympathy has caused tremendous harm. I hope and pray the Supreme Court will try and find a fine balance embedded in justice.' CJI agreed to review court's order Responding to the widespread criticism, Chief Justice Gavai agreed on 13 August, to review the Court's order. Reacting to this development, actor Randeep Hooda welcomed the reconsideration, tweeting: "So glad to hear that the Honourable CJI has agreed to look into the ruling about stray dogs in NCR. Passing a law and implementing a law should be, firstly, humane — and secondly, the infrastructure and sensitivity need to be taken care of." He acknowledged the complexity of the issue: "Are stray dogs our collective community humanitarian responsibility? Yes. Can they be a menace? Yes. I love animals — but will I be able to justify it to a family that has lost a loved one to rabies or serious injuries? No." Randeep cautioned against mass impounding, saying it's neither a viable nor humane solution. Instead, he advocated for long-term strategies like large-scale, cyclic neutering and the targeted relocation of aggressive packs. He also urged people to adopt. Sharmila Tagore's most recent film appearance was in the Bengali drama Puratawn, released in April. Directed by Suman Ghosh, the film marked her return to Bengali cinema after a 14-year hiatus. Randeep Hooda's most recent film is Jaat, a high-octane action thriller released on 10 April, in which he plays the antagonist opposite Sunny Deol in the lead role
India.com
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet First Indian Actress To Wear A Bikini On-Screen, She Is Paternal Grandmother Of 2 Bollywood Actresses & No She Is Not Sharmila Tagore...Her Name Is
photoDetails english 2941266 Updated:Aug 05, 2025, 07:00 AM IST First Indian Actress To Wear A Bikini On-Screen 1 / 7 First Indian Actress To Wear A Bikini On-Screen: While many Indian actresses are now breaking stereotypes through their roles and film choices, back in 1930s, a star was made her sensational debut, sending shockwaves as she stunned in a black swimwear. Who was she and which film was it? Today, in this feature, let's find out more about the first Indian actress to wear a bikini on-screen: Who Was Meenakshi Shirodkar? 2 / 7 Meenakshi Shirodkar worked predominantly in Marathi films, Marathi theatre and television. She made her debut in 1938 and continued to act in films until the early 1970s. She hogged limelight for wearing a swimsuit in the Marathi film Brahmachari (1938) with Master Vinayak. She is the paternal grandmother of two Bollywood actresses, Namrata Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar. First Indian Actress To Wear A Bikini 3 / 7 So unlike popular belief that Sharmila Tagore was the first Indian actress to wear a bikini on-screen, it was actually actress Meenakshi Shirodkar who made an appearance in 1938 film Brahmachari wearing a swimsuit, hogging all the attention back in time. It was considered to be a huge move for any actress in those days. She wore a bikini set for a song 'Yamuna Jali Khelu Khel'. The song was sung by Shirodkar herself and became a huge hit. Sharmila Tagore, Nalini Jaywant, Nargis And Other Actresses Who Wore Bikini 4 / 7 Nalini Jaywant did wear a bikini in the 1950 film 'Sangram' alongside Ashok Kumar. Nargis in 'Awaara' (1951) and Nutan in 'Dilli Ka Thug' (1958) also donned swimwear. But it is Sharmila Tagore, whose bikini appearance in the 1966 Filmfare photoshoot and not a movie is considered path-breaking. Meenakshi Shirodkar's Personal Life 5 / 7 Meenakshi Shirodkar was born as Ratan Pednekar to a Maharashtrian family with Goan roots. She was later married to Dr Shirodkar, with whom she had a son, who married Marathi actress Gangu Bai and became parents of film actresses Namrata Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar. She started learning Indian classical music at an early age. Shirodkar died at the age of 80 in Mumbai. Meenakshi Shirodkar's Debut 6 / 7 She made her sensational debut in 1938 Marathi film Brahmachari, opposite Master Vinayak. The writer of the film Pralhad Keshav Atre, better known as "Āchārya Atre", changed her name from "Ratan" to "Meenaxi" to suit her big eyes, reportedly. Her Noteworthy Filmography 7 / 7 Besides Brahmachari, she was seen in Brandichi Batli (1939), Ghar Ki Rani (1940), Amrut (1941), Jawani (1942), Majhe Bal (1943), Sangam (1943), Amanat (1943), Badi Maa (1945), Miss Mary (1957) and Pakeezah (1972) among several others.
