Abhay Deol On His Sexuality: 'I've Embraced All Experiences In My Life'; Actor Rejects Western Labels

Abhay Deol rejects Western labels for sexuality, rather preferring a spectrum approach. He advocates for embracing both masculine and feminine traits and redefines masculinity as creating safety and inclusion. His upcoming film Bun Tikki seems to explore gender and sexuality themes.

Hyderabad: Bollywood actor Abhay Deol shed light on his thoughts regarding sexuality and masculinity. The actor expresses his rejection of the Western approach to defining sexuality. He prefers to see sexuality as a spectrum rather than being constrained by rigid labels.

Deol's statement was both open and reflective. In an interview with a magazine, he said, "I refuse the Western way of identifying sexuality because it's so black and white. The Eastern approach is so different, it recognizes the whole of us. I don't define my sexuality, and this might sound controversial but for me, it's not something that I think can be defined. I think it's more for the other person's comfort so that they can put you in a box, and neatly slot you."

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Continuing his viewpoint, Deol provided a layered understanding of gender roles and identities, which signifies a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse human experience. He said, "Why should I define myself in Western terms? I have embraced all experiences in my life and I continue to do so. I don't know how to label that, I don't want to label that. All of us have a masculine and feminine within us, so, in my opinion, we are all they/them."

Addressing the nuances of masculinity, the actor offered perspectives that challenge traditional gender norms. He noted, "I think masculinity, for me, is the ability to make people feel safe and included." Rather than viewing the roles of protector and provider as inherent traits linked to one's gender, he considers them to be either individual personality characteristics or conditioned behaviours.

The actor's forthcoming movie Bun Tikki, features prominent actors like Zeenat Aman and Shabana Azmi. Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, this film appears to delve deeper into issues related to gender and sexuality. Bankrolled by Manish Malhotra's Stage 5 Productions and in collaboration with Jio Studios, Bun Tikki is likely to be an important addition to Deol's filmography.

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