Accused Star Konkona Sen Sharma Critiques Industry’s Portrayal of Homosexuality

Konkona Sen Sharma Questions Bollywood’s “Default” Lens

As she prepares for the release of *Accused* on Netflix, actor-filmmaker Konkona Sen Sharma has spoken candidly about the Hindi film industry’s longstanding approach to queer representation.

In promotional interviews, Konkona noted that homosexuality in mainstream cinema has often been treated as either a social “issue” or a source of “derogatory humour.” She observed that films rarely feature homosexual characters unless their identity is central to the conflict.

“We often will not have characters in films who are homosexual unless we are dealing with it as an issue. Or unless, like a few decades back, we are deriving some kind of derogatory humour from it,” she said.

Drawing a parallel with portrayals of differently-abled individuals, she added that characters outside the “default” mold are seldom depicted unless their identity itself becomes the subject of the story. “The default is often straight, male, Hindi-speaking. Not varied enough,” she remarked.

‘Accused’ and Its Non-Preachy Approach to Queerness

Directed by Anubhuti Kashyap and written by Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, Accused centers on Geetika, a London-based surgeon played by Konkona, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct at her workplace. The film also stars Pratibha Ranta as Meera, Geetika’s partner.

Unlike many earlier portrayals, the film does not frame the couple’s same-sex relationship as a moral debate or social lesson. Instead, their dynamic unfolds as an integral part of the narrative.

Pratibha Ranta described the portrayal as grounded and realistic. “Yes, it is a homosexual couple. But it is not there on the face. It does not come across very preachy. The situations are very real; the lack of trust, the manner in which one will go to any extent to be there for the partner. Until you realise there’s more to that…”

Konkona, who previously portrayed a queer character in *Geeli Puchi*, emphasized that sexual orientation is only one dimension of a character’s identity. “We do not have to focus on her coming from a queer community. Of course, that happens to be the fundamental identity of hers. But that’s not her only identity,” she said.

Exploring Power, Perception and Gender

Accused examines what happens when a woman in a position of authority is accused of sexual misconduct — a narrative perspective rarely seen in Indian cinema. Director Anubhuti Kashyap has said the team conducted extensive research, including reviewing UK and US reports, which indicated that while most perpetrators are men, cases involving women do occur.

Kashyap described the film as an exploration of perception and its consequences, particularly when certainty is elusive. The story follows Geetika and Meera as they prepare to adopt a child, only for their lives to be upended by allegations that trigger professional fallout and strain their relationship.

Konkona has said the film intentionally avoids melodrama. “I felt the subject needed a certain kind of weight and depth… that can come purely if you keep it far more closer to reality than resorting to sensationalism,” she explained, adding that the UK setting and global Netflix release also influenced the restrained storytelling style.

On #MeToo and the Justice Hema Committee Report

Beyond the film’s themes, Konkona also addressed the broader cultural context of workplace harassment in the industry. Speaking about the impact of the #MeToo movement, she acknowledged structural changes such as the establishment of Internal Complaints Committees on film sets.

However, she expressed concern that accountability remains inconsistent. “We know the people who have been accused, we can see so many of them thriving,” she said, noting that societal choices — including whom audiences support — play a role in shaping consequences.

Referring to the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted allegations of harassment and systemic issues in the Malayalam film industry, she questioned how widely the findings have been engaged with. “The Hema committee has brought out a report, how many people have actually read it, how widely has it been circulated?” she asked.

A Measured Narrative With Global Reach

Produced by Dharmatic Entertainment and backed by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawala and Somen Mishra, *Accused* is positioned as a psychological thriller that probes power, trust and public judgment. According to Netflix India’s Director of Original Films, Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, the project stood out for examining a familiar concept — an accusation — from an unusual lens.

The film premieres globally on Netflix on February 27, 2026.