Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele – a movie where a Gay Boy Meets A Lesbian Girl and Goes on a Fun Road Trip! Well, we are a sucker for road trip movies, and this road trip has a very promising premise indeed!
Helmed by Director Harish Vyas, of Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain fame, Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele tells the beautiful story of these two homosexual characters – Veer (Anshuman Jha) and Mansi (Zareen Khan) who form a unique friendship as a turn of events change their lives on their road trip from New Delhi to McLeodganj.
The film was originally slated for a theatrical release in March 2020, but the lockdown hampered their plans, so it has opted for a digital release instead.
Instead of being preachy, Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele handles showing the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community sensibly but also in a very humorous manner.
On playing a lesbian character onscreen, the gorgeous Zareen Khan says, “It’s a story that’s close to my heart and needs to come out in the society, especially in a country like India. The LGBTQ community is also very close to my heart. Many of my friends belong to this community and I know the kind of things that they go through. Though Section 377 has been approved by our government and we have the freedom now but still, I think it will take some time for our family to accept this.”
On celebrating a story of solidarity and friendship, Anshuman Jha playing the gay male lead Veer says,“This film discovers and re-discovers the love in friendship.”
Aww….Isn’t that just so wholesome?
The film had its world premiere on November 22 2019, in New York at the HBO South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) where it also bagged the Audience’s Choice for the ‘Best Film Award’! The talented Zareen Khan was also honoured with the ‘Best Actress Award‘ for Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele at the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF).
Zareen Khan who has previously been seen in films like Hate Story 3, Aksar 2 and 1921, was glad to have such a refreshing role for a change. “I’m very satisfied with this film. This is the kind of role that I was waiting for. I’m very thrilled about the film getting so much appreciation in the festival circuits.”