SUSHANT DIVGIKR

THIS LGBTQ ICON WEARS MANY HATS WITH EASE AND APLOMB. AHEAD OF PRIDE MONTH, THEY SHARE THEIR ‘NAMASLAY’ PHILOSOPHY AND DARING JOURNEY TO BECOME RANI KOHENUR

- SHRADDHA CHOWDHURY

Model, actor, motivational speaker, drag queen, pageant director, columnist, psychologist, VJ… You play varied roles in your life. What do you enjoy the most? Yes, I wear several hats. Whoever said that a jack of all trades is a master of none has obviously not met the few of us who can master them all! I’ve had a blast wearing all of these hats at various points in my life. They have all served me wonderfully in my journey. As an artist, it’s also great to find those intersections with the psyche of your audience, manoeuvre your art and make sure it’s accessible to more people. So I certainly enjoy wearing all these hats and can’t pick just one because I excel in all of them!

Describe yourself in five words. My art has no barriers. That’s five words!

It’s been an incredible journey to becoming Rani KoHEnur. How did you deal with the obstacles in your path? Had it been simpler, I wouldn’t respect the process as much as I do this very moment. I’ve never had any favours thrown at me. In fact, I’ve had to hustle at least 10 times harder than everybody in the room. It’s evident, but it is what it is. I could either sulk and host a pity party that only I’d attend, or I could change the narrative and play the master instead of the victim. I’m a shining example of how one can be themselves and still achieve whatever they want to. So I had to believe in myself all through.