This year’s ELLE digital pride cover features five fabulous stars–Kubbra Sait, Glorious Luna, Aditi Chauhan, VEE, and Onir–each a beacon of resilience and advocacy in their own right.
Through a series of phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp voice notes, our conversations unfolded like a mosaic and showcased how pride in India stands as both a joyous celebration and a powerful protest. Kubbra’s journey from playing a trans character in Sacred Games to realising the importance of humour in advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, Luna’s nurturing of queer talent through her talent agency and upcoming app, Aditi’s mentorship of young female footballers, VEE’s fight for trans visibility and expression through fashion, and Onir’s unwavering commitment to telling queer stories through film, all paint a vivid portrait of progress and perseverance.
Pride, as reflected in their stories, is a moment of profound significance in India. It is a time when celebration and protest intersect, where the joy of being one’s true self is inextricably linked to the fight for acceptance and equality. In the intimacy of our conversations, a personal narrative of connection and camaraderie emerged. Their answers, often laced with the challenges they face, also brimmed with hope—hope found in safe spaces, in the power of community, and in the ever-expanding horizon of possibility.
Kubbra Sait: “For me, safe spaces are where silences are not awkward.”
Kubbra Sait has done it all: from being a Microsoft employee in Dubai to a beauty pageant star to an award-winning actor on the silver screen. Her critically acclaimed role as Kukoo, a trans character in Sacred Games, earned her national fame overnight. In this interview, Kubbra reflects on what it means for trans characters to play trans roles, the importance of humour in advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, and why hope remains important for her.
ELLE: What does fabulous mean to you?
Kubbra Sait (KS): Being fabulous is a state of mind for me. Like when you feel like your own cheerleader for the day, with pom poms in hand and glitter in the hair, just as colourful, vividly expressive as you can be. I think that is fabulous.
ELLE: What is your go-to safe space?
KS: I think my home, my cat’s furry chests and bellies. Or warm hugs. I like warm hugs. For me, safe spaces are where silences are not awkward.
ELLE: Did being cast as Kukoo (in Sacred Games) get you more involved in advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights?
KS: Kukoo was such a beautiful bridge between the community and me. And I’m very grateful for the love that I’ve received. But it’s our job as people who live in a society that faces certain issues to speak about them in our own way. We should stand up for each other. This is not restricted to the profession that you’re in. Agar hame lagta hai, something is not right, and we are in the capacity to address it, we should totally do that.
ELLE: Should trans characters be played by trans people? How do we get more trans actors to be cast in trans roles?
KS: You know, this is such a Catch-22 situation. I truly believe that an actor is someone who, through their craft, shines a light on a character. The characters that we play are sometimes defined by their gender and sexuality.
But I think the more significant question to ask here is: have we created an environment where trans actors are being restrained from expressing their own identities? We must be more open to the craft, regardless of sexuality or gender. And I’ve seen that happen through queer film festivals like Kashish. I’ve seen that change integrated into the fabric of our stories today.
We’re in the middle of change. And we’re looking at something bigger than us and bigger than, you know, just labels.
ELLE: Humour is an integral part of your public persona. Is it more effective at convincing people to be more progressive and accepting?
KS: I think humour is something that binds us. It makes us look at our brokenness but with a smile, which is pretty awesome. Right now, what we need is that kind of glue that sticks us together without breaking us apart. I connect with humans with humour, and I’m able to breathe through it. I’m able to feel a sense of relief. We need more love and glue in the world right now over things that are too serious!
ELLE: Your book, which you describe as ‘not quite a memoir’, presents a deeply personal story of how you got ‘out of a rut’ and confronted failure multiple times over. What does hope mean to you, and how do you share hope?
KS: First of all, this is, like, the most incredible description of my book!
Yes, I have confronted failure on multiple occasions. Earlier, when I would do something stupid like forgetting a file at home or spilling coffee on my white shirt, I would be really critical of myself. One day, I started changing how I spoke. I’d say, ‘Oh, I’m so human,’ and when I fix things, I go, ‘Oh, look, I’m such a resourceful human.’
It’s really the information that you feed yourself that matters. It’s really important that you validate yourself. There is strength in seeing a certain balance, knowing that you’re healing your brokenness while still watching your next step. That’s hope for me.
To me, hope means walking forward and being open to discovering new experiences along the way.
Glorious Luna: “Everybody wants to work with us, but nobody wants to represent us in the way we want to be represented.”
Glorious Luna’s influence extends far beyond the runway and into the heart of LGBTQIA+ advocacy and community building. As the founder of the Jungle App and the IT Ball, Luna has created spaces where queer talent thrives and self-expression reigns supreme. In this interview, Luna discusses the power of fashion as activism, the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces, and the ongoing fight for authentic representation in the industry.
ELLE: What does the word fabulous mean to you?
Glorious Luna (GL): Being fabulous means being completely comfortable with who you are, freely expressing yourself however you want to, free from all the social norms and boxes. Someone who expresses fearlessly is fabulous.
ELLE: Through the IT Ball and House of Luna, you’ve nurtured queer talent with care. Why is creating a sense of community so important to you?
GL: In order to prove a point! When you oppress a minority, what comes after is evolution because we want to emancipate ourselves. And for emancipation, creating a community is really important. When you act as a community, something beautiful emerges – in art, culture, and literature. As human beings, we all want to feel like we belong. We all want to feel at home. For younger queers, giving a sense of belonging and a sense of home is really important for me.
ELLE: What does it mean to stick to your principles even when it might not make business sense? We’d love an example here!
GL: Sticking to my principles means deeply caring about myself and my needs and wants. That’s why one has to stick to their principle because, at the end of the day, this is about love and respect for yourself. I’m queer, and I’m here to make space for myself and my community. Even if it doesn’t make sense business-wise, I don’t care because, at the end of the day, it’s kind of securing me and my queerness.
For example, I’ve created an app called Jungle – which will be released soon – for the non-binary and trans community. There are so many apps in the market for the queer community at large, but non-binary and trans people always get discriminated on these apps. So Jungle was created not only as a dating app but as a space for the community to find resources, considering the safety and security concerns of trans and non-binary people.
My agency is also another great example! It doesn’t make a lot of business sense to create an agency exclusively for the queer community – but, you know, somebody had to do it. Everybody wants to work with us, but nobody wants to represent us how we want to be represented. So somebody had to create that space.
ELLE: What are your thoughts on casting transgender roles in the film industry?
GL: We must be more responsible regarding casting. Even heterosexual actors have started becoming more responsible. For example, Scarlett Johansson dropped out of a film where she was supposed to play a trans character because she felt that a trans person could’ve played the character better.
Of course, we should cast people purely based on talent. People might argue that actors are supposed to play roles regardless of gender or sexuality. Sure. But are trans actors getting equal opportunities as straight actors? If we start getting cast equally for other roles, I’m sure trans actors wouldn’t mind straight people playing trans characters.
ELLE: While caring for everyone else, how do you take care of yourself? What’s your go-to meal when dealing with online hate or a bad day at work?
GL: I don’t take things too seriously! If I want a solution, I sit by myself and go inward. I think going inward and giving time to myself is very important. I don’t deal with hate because it says less about me and more about how the world works. And my go-to comfort food is a nice, home-cooked Assamese meal!
ELLE: If you had to pick one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? And what’s the one look you’d never be caught dead in?
GL: Any outfit from Dior by John Galliano. John Galliano never does anything wrong. I love the Autumn/Winter 1998 collection. I also like the Couture 1997 (Autumn/Winter). I love Galliano because his work is so expressive. It has such great craftsmanship, colours, textures, an amalgamation of different cultures – and he does it so seamlessly!
I would never be caught dead in athleisure. I don’t know why, but I’d rather wear a cotton shirt and linen trousers, but never athleisure!
Aditi Chauhan: “Pride, to me, is the profound sense of self-respect and dignity that comes from embracing who I am.”
Aditi Chauhan has carved a remarkable journey for herself, both on the football field and beyond. The goalkeeper for the Indian women’s football team, she has championed the cause of empowering young girls in sports through her initiative, She Kicks. In this interview, Aditi shares insights into her role as one of the few out and proud Indian sportspersons, highlighting the transformative power of visibility and the resilience that drives her commitment to making sports more inclusive.
ELLE: Inclusion is a gradual process. What are the barriers to making sports more inclusive?
Aditi Chauhan (AC): I think women’s football, in my experience, is the most inclusive, open and supportive sport worldwide. Many prominent female footballers who are openly LGBTQIA+ have become role models and advocates. Players like Megan Rapinoe, Marta, and Sam Kerr are celebrated both for their athletic achievements and their openness about their sexual orientation. Their visibility helps normalise LGBTQ+ identities in sports across the world.
In the last few years, women’s football has made major strides both on and off the field. Some football federations and leagues have also implemented policies to promote inclusion and protect LGBTQ+ rights. But despite these steps, some challenges remain, and I feel media representation plays a major role in spreading awareness, educating the public, and normalising LGBTQ+ identities to overcome cultural barriers.
ELLE: Queer people are often made to believe that sports isn’t for them. How do we change this perception?
AC: I feel more visibility and celebration of queer role models through wider media coverage for positive and prominent representation can challenge the stereotypes and normalise LGBTQIA+ participation in sports.
ELLE: Through She Kicks, you’ve helped so many young girls realise their dream of a professional football career. Why is mentoring the next generation of women footballers so important to you?
AC: As the founder of She Kicks, my purpose is to provide a safe, professional and supportive environment for girls to play football. It’s important for me because I’ve walked this path, and I know how isolating and challenging it is for girls in India to pursue football. I want to make this journey a little bit easier for them.
ELLE: Your football journey, especially after your injury, is inspiring. What does hope mean to you, and how do you share hope?
AC: When I tore my ACL for the second time, I was completely shattered. I wanted to give up. My recovery was a long and exhausting journey that kept me away for a year from something I love and enjoy the most.
An injury like this truly tests you mentally and physically every single day. You go through a roller coaster of emotions every day. Doubts and apprehensions creep in from time to time. In those moments especially, you cling to hope as tightly as you can because hope is the light that guides us through the darkest moments and fuels resilience. It fuelled my determination during gruelling rehab sessions and kept me focused on my goal of returning to the pitch. I share hope by setting an example and being a role model.
ELLE: What does pride mean to you?
AC: Pride, to me, is the profound sense of self-respect and dignity that comes from embracing who I am, both as an athlete and an individual. It’s about celebrating my achievements, recognising my strengths, and overcoming adversity. Pride is the courage to be authentic, the determination to overcome challenges, and the commitment to living my truth. It means valuing my journey, acknowledging my worth, and inspiring others to do the same. Pride is not just about personal triumphs but also about contributing to a supportive and inclusive community where everyone feels empowered to be their true selves.
VEE: “As queer people, we strive to find unique ways of expressing ourselves, and for some, fashion is the one catalyst that brings out our true inner selves.”
VEE is definitely the coolest kid on the block. As a prominent voice within the trans-masculine community and the founder of the uber-chic Your Thrifty Closet, VEE uses fashion as a catalyst for self-expression and empowerment. In this interview, VEE shares insights into the challenges faced by trans men in the mainstream media, the significance of clothing in identity affirmation, and the importance of never being caught dead in skinny jeans.
ELLE: Trans men are amongst the most underrepresented parts of the LGBTQIA+ community. Who are the trans men you look up to?
VEE (V): Being a part of the LQBTQIA+ community as a trans man, I’ve always faced an issue with the lack of knowledge regarding trans masculine persons. And that is only because of the lack of representation. While I know a few trans men based in my community, there are only a few, like Chella Man, Elliot Page and Aryan Pasha, that are being represented on a bigger scale for others to look up to. But I hope, in the upcoming years, we’ll get the representation we need.
ELLE: What makes clothes such an important part of the way queer people express themselves and their identities?
V: Clothing has always been an integral part of representing myself, especially when it comes to my gender identity. As queer people, we always strive to find unique ways of expressing ourselves, and for some, fashion is the one catalyst that brings out our true inner selves.
ELLE: If you had to pick one outfit to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? And what’s the one look you’d never be caught dead in?
V: It’d definitely be something like a tight t-shirt and baggy bottom. I feel like people have comfort food, and I have comfort clothes. I can spend the rest of my life in that particular combination.
But you’ll never, ever catch me wearing skinny jeans. I’ll hide, move cities and change my identity before I wear skinny jeans.
ELLE: How do you take care of yourself? What’s your go-to safe space?
V: Taking care of myself involves having downtime—alone time —to reflect on myself and things about my life. Talking to myself and spending time with my thoughts is a crucial part of growth and development for me. My go-to safe space is definitely my chosen family—my friends and my girlfriend, who understand me on an innate level and always look out for me. Plus, they never get bored of my silly little habits. With them, I feel at home.
ELLE: What advice would you give to a young queer person struggling to come out right now?
V: The only advice I ever give to people struggling with coming out is to be patient with yourself and with people around you. It has helped me realise who I really am and where I want to go. If you’re facing issues coming out, take a step back think about things clearly and find the right time for yourself to be out. Not just because you have to but because you want to. It’s hard right now, but once you’re free of the cage within yourself, there’s no better feeling than that.
Onir: “Today, what is absolutely necessary is the queer gaze. It’s crucial to have queer people not only playing queer characters but also behind the camera.”
Onir is a National Award-winning filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and editor. His groundbreaking film My Brother… Nikhil was among the first mainstream Hindi films to courageously address AIDS and gay relationships. In this interview, Onir discusses the importance of the queer gaze in filmmaking, the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ filmmakers, and the need for the LGBTQ+ community to stand up against all forms of marginalisation.
ELLE: We’ve had many conversations about queer actors playing queer characters. But what about those behind the camera? How many queer directors, queer DOPs, and queer producers do we have?
Onir (O): I always compare our movement with the feminist movement. For the last two decades, there has been a constant effort to advocate for women directors and women in decision-making positions because the feminine gaze is different. Today, what is absolutely necessary is the queer gaze. It’s crucial to have queer people not only playing queer characters but also behind the camera.
Platforms call me to inaugurate their queer shows but don’t call me to work with them. That’s silly. Most stories told in mainstream cinema are from a heteronormative gaze, which gets accepted by platforms, producers, and stars, and finds more acceptance with the audience. However, we need to start this journey. If you can build up star kids with 300 crores, why can’t you invest 3 crores in building up the career and profile of a queer actor?
ELLE: You’ve faced a number of challenges as a gay filmmaker, even from those who might mean well. What does it mean to stick to your principles even when it might not make business sense?
O: My Brother… Nikhil took 20 years to break even; it’s still not a blockbuster. It was awarded worldwide but did not win a single award here. ‘I Am’ got awards, but nobody touched the film. My biggest weakness is that money is not the driving force. I am passionate about making work happen. ‘I Am’ was made through crowdfunding. I spent my entire life insurance on my latest film because telling those stories gives me more happiness than sitting with that money and purchasing a flat. But after two decades, these things don’t stress you out! You keep finding a way.
ELLE: You constantly reiterate that the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights is part of a broader fight for equal rights. Why is it important for the queer community to fight for the rights of other marginalised communities?
O: Growing up, I was totally invisible in my social sphere. As a filmmaker, I want to create films that speak to others who feel similarly invisible. Partly, it’s maybe in my genes. My father has been a political activist for the Bhasha Andolan in Bangladesh; he was in jail for seven years. Every morning, I have chai with my parents. My mother always says, ‘Anything against hate, go for it.’
It is important to speak for others. I do it for myself. I would lose respect for myself if I remained silent. If I expect people to stand up for me, how can I not stand up for them?
ELLE: What advice would you give to a young queer person struggling to come out right now?
O: A lot of young people are scared of losing their family. The fact is that it’s important to focus on being economically independent. When you’re independent, you can have this conversation with your family. If they don’t accept you, they never loved you. They only loved your mask. Why do you want to have your mask be loved? Don’t be afraid to step out of that family. You’ll always find a family of people who love you for who you are
ELLE: What does pride mean to you?
O: Pride means standing up for queer rights as a matter of principle, not as a PR stunt. Being queer or having pride is not only about the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. Pride is also about standing up for other marginalised communities.
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi; Photographer: Tarun Kalyani; Jr Fashion Editor: Shaeroy Chinoy; Stylist: Arzoo Nagraik from Team-E; Asst. Art Director: Sanjana Suvarna (Cover Design); Hair & Makeup: Elton J Fernandez & Team managed by Inega; Bookings Editor: Rishith Shetty; Bookings Coordinator: Anushka Patil; Assisted by: Komal Shetty, Vaishnavi Misra, Idris Nidham (styling); Khushi Nagpal (bookings) Production: CutLoose Productions; Artist Reputation: Kubbra Sait: Idhyah, Vee: Feat. Artists, Luna: Current Management; Videographer: Roshan Paul.
