Sushant Divgikr or what she popularly goes by, Rani Ko-HE-Nur, is an actor, singer, performer, drag artist, writer and so much more. She was recently seen in the Netflix original Thank You for Coming where she was spotted alongside Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill and Kusha Kapila. t2 had a quick chat with Rani when she was in Calcutta for the Pink Pride Fundraiser Ball for the Kolkata Pride last month at The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata. Excerpts.
Welcome back to Calcutta, Rani! What is the vibe of the city for you and what are your favourite aspects of it?
Calcutta is one of the most splendid cities not just in our country but in the entire world. There is so much culture, heritage and history and you can see it in the city’s architecture, commute and corners. I actually experienced the Metro and tram both for the first time in Calcutta. Of course, the yellow cabs are my go-to. The fast food, momos, begun pora and maachher jhol are my favourites. I also like basic foods, like the dal is made differently here, the lentils are cooked much more finely. I’ll tell you a secret, I lost five kilograms to come here so that I can have the sweets of Calcutta and put those five kilograms back. So, that is how much I love this beautiful city.
Thank You for Coming has seen you in a prominent role for the first time. How does it feel to act in such an important project?
This is the first time a trans person has played the role of a very serious cisgender heterosexual man in Bollywood.
Yes, and that is such a refreshing change. The roles have reversed....
The roles have reversed and how?! It could not get better. Even my mother couldn’t believe it when I appeared at her doorstep looking like my character in Thank You for Coming and she said “Kaun chahiye?” (Who do you want?) So, she is very funny and that is where I get the wit from. I play the role of a pre-operation trans person who does drag and ultimately becomes one with their performing arts. It has been a beautiful journey because I got to play the role of a character very close to my heart and drag avatar. Anjali (role in Thank You for Coming) is very close to Rani but Rani is a little more fabulous (laughs)!
How much preparation and mental strength did it take for you to play the role of Rahul, that is before he lives his truest self?
I died. I said: ‘Bhaiyya, I have become the man I wanted to be. Here we go!’ So, Cher was not wrong when she said: “Mom, I am the rich man,” as a reply to her mother who asked her to get married to a rich man. People don’t understand dysmorphia. I have fought many a mornings looking at my reflection in the mirror as someone I was not. So the thought of going back made me shiver but then I realised that I am an actor. If cisgender people can play transgender characters, then why not vice-versa?
How does it feel to surprise your parents with gifts and shower your love on them in all the ways you ever wanted to?
I always wanted my parents to have everything that they could not give us and not because they did not work hard. Parents choose to give their children everything that they can and sacrifice so much so the kids do not feel the lack of anything. I got my parents a car on their anniversary and my dad is still a miser. But I reiterate to them often that I have money and you can spend without giving it a thought.
Where do you think the future of the queer community is heading towards with inclusivity?
Well, I’ll have to do more films and I guess; I’ll just have to let you know when I get my first national award, and then I’ll see you at the Grammys (laughs).
If there was one advice that you wish you got earlier in your life, what would that be?
Since I saw so much I would like to tell everyone who thinks they are a minority or life hasn’t been fair to them, just hang in there and keep working hard. Have you seen Kill Bill? When Uma Thurman is buried in a coffin by her guru and she keeps on hitting the wood even though her knuckles keep bleeding. That was the only way she could survive otherwise she would asphyxiate and die. Finally, she breaks through the coffin and that is the lesson, the survival of the fittest. Every day you wake up and see the sun and see the moon while going to sleep, that is your gift on days when nothing else made you smile. What you do with it is up to you. The crowd mentality is to pull each other down, but if someone is pulling you down that means you are already ahead of them. So, march ahead darling, peechhe dekhna mat, chalte bano!