Sushant Divgikr on living unapologetically: If it’s not your cup of tea, switch to coffee

When it comes to being a vocal advocate of change and positivity for the LGBTQIA+ community, few walk the talk quite like Sushant Divgikr. Under their no-nonsense demeanour is a performer who knows how to bring the community together and celebrate not being sorry for who they are. Divgikr made their presence felt by bringing the house down at the recently held Tinder's Queer Made Weekend. Done in collaboration with Gaysi Family, the festival celebrated, supported, and amplified businesses and products made, owned, and/or run by India’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Post their power-packed performance, where they set the stage on fire belting out one banger after another, Cosmopolitan India caught up with Divgikr to speak about Pride Month, the importance of a support system in today’s time, finding new ways to slay, and more. 

Cosmopolitan India: First times are always memorable. Do you remember the first time you celebrated Pride Month?

Sushant Divgikr: No (laughs). Of course, I do. It was in Mumbai and I think it was the second time that the city had a Pride Parade. I went with all my straight, heterosexual cis-friends and their boyfriends. I thought they felt very included in the process and that was fantastic. That’s the whole essence of inclusion, to not be excluded. And I think we succeeded. 

CI: What does Pride mean to you?

SD: I think Pride is not just this one month. It should be celebrated every moment of your life and you should be very unapologetic and unashamed of who you are and what you’ve become (from what you were) and live your life to the fullest. I don’t think you should be on anyone’s watch or clock, or anyone’s account because nobody pays your bills. So live your life, honey!

CI: How important is a support system like ‘Tinder brings back Queer Made Weekend’ in today’s context for the community?

SD: I love it. Everybody asks me whether I’m on Tinder. Sadly, I’m taken and am not on the app. But I used to be very active on it once upon a time.

CI: How does Rani KoHEnur find new ways to slay every single day?

SD: Like I said earlier, it’s all about being unapologetic. If it’s not your cup of tea, switch to coffee.  

CI: What are the things society needs to think about with regard to loving and understanding the LGBTQIA+ community better? 

SD: I think, more than even loving, I need people to understand that people have personal space. You need to respect that. I don’t understand everything about everyone and that’s fine. I will respect someone else’s process because that’s who they are. Why make such a big deal out of someone’s gender, orientation, and identity. 

CI: Do you think cinema, Bollywood in particular, needs to apologise to the LGBTQIA+ community considering the way they have been portrayed and represented? 

SD: No (sarcastically). Because I think that they’re living in a bubble, a fantasy land. They think that men and women playing transgender characters is a vocational conquest. And they get awards for that. I think the real change will happen when a transgender actor plays a beauty queen’s biopic. They should, if they’re a good actor and fit the bill. Is that going to happen? That’s the question that needs answering. 

Lead image: Tinder

Also read: #PrideSpecial: There's an ally for everyone with Sushant Divgikr

Also read: Sushant Divgikr: I am proud that my music and my art and my drag have no barriers