Author's note : This article only talks about the character of Rahul Kapoor played by Fawad Khan. It isn't focused on the main storyline of the movie and nor is it about that.
Directed by Shakun Batra
Written by Shagun Batra, Ayesha DeVitre, Spandan Mishra
Starring : Rishi Kapoor, Rajat Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah, Fawad Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Anuradha Chandan
Every once in a while comes a film that makes us fall in love with its relatable storyline, screenplay, and characters; a movie that challenges us to think beyond our societal norms. For me, that movie is Kapoor and Sons. The movie has a narrative that revolves around the dysfunctional Kapoor family, set against the backdrop of their ancestral home in Coonoor. The movie is one of my favorites for its depiction of a dysfunctional family. A family that runs around trying to fulfill the last wish of their zany old grandpa - to get a family picture before he dies. In all its madness, this movie turned out to be more than just about family. It made me cry, laugh, and think through my perceptions about people.
One thing that stood out to me was a character called Rahul Kapoor, played by Fawad Khan. Rahul Kapoor is a successful author who had been living in London, away from his family. He is the pride of their family, the eldest child. His mother calls him "mera perfect beta," and that's who he is for most of the film. When he returns to his home, drama unravels as secrets are revealed. Rahul has constantly been sinking under the pressure of perfection, always looking out for his family while pushing his own reality and truth to the bleak background.
Now you may ask, What reality? What truth? As the scenes pass by, we get to know that the novel which got Rahul to where he is right now was written by his brother. His mother couldn't see her "perfect beta" failing in life, so she stole the novel his brother wrote, unknowingly also creating a big rift in the relationship of the brothers. As if that was not already enough, his mother constantly pesters him to find a girl to marry and snoops around his belongings. While Rahul is busy trying to bandage up his fractured family, his own life falls apart when his mother finds out her son is gay. When his mother refuses to accept him for who he is, the strain is vivid on his face and her words ring hollow in his ears.
In Bollywood cinema, it is very rare to see a depiction of a homosexual person where the character wasn't used as just a funny accessory to the storyline. In this film, Fawad Khan's character is more than just a gay guy. He is the eldest son of his family who has been unknowingly burdened with the expectations of being perfect and is forced to put his well-being second. Where Bollywood portrays the LGBTQIA+ community in awful shades of pink, this character was raw, unfiltered, and vulnerable. Fawad's ability to convey such complex emotions and showcase such an emotionally tired character in a subtle way is what makes this performance so memorable. It was the brilliant performance by Fawad Khan which brought tears to my eyes and a smile on my face, and I refuse to believe that any other mainstream actor could have done justice to this role. The film focused more on the family dynamics than solely exploring Rahul's sexual orientation, and the writers are to be appreciated for birthing this mindful character.
In the end, despite the bitterness, affections have somehow survived or as I like to say, sometimes when life offers you a candy instead of change, you pop it in your mouth and zoom ahead.
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