Updated On: 17 June, 2022 09:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Natasha Coutinho D`souza
In an exclusive conversation with mid-day.com, Sushant Divgikr speaks about how OTT platforms treat characters from the LGBTQIA+ community and the discrimination artistes from the community face

Sushant Divgkr/PR image
Sushant Divgikr, Mr Gay India 2014, is a known singer, actor, reality TV star, drag queen besides being a social media influencer, who also goes by the name of Rani KoHEnur. He has always been vocal about issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. Speaking to mid-day.com in an interview earlier, Sushant says that despite the community slowly but steadily making inroads in the entertainment industry, there is still a lot of discrimination and prejudice that artistes have to deal with.
“This is my 16th year in the entertainment industry and it’s been an uphill task, not because I am mediocre or lack talent, but as a queer person, no one gives you time of day. Before social media, we would stand in queues to audition and not be rejected on the basis of our performance, but on the basis of our gender. Today because we fought for our place on the table, we are getting miniscule work. I have been the most booked live artist because I sing in 15 Indian languages in all genres, be it jazz, ballads, semi-classical, pop and Broadway. People enjoy it and I sing in two voices, it’s a vocal range which two-three people in this country have. To add to it I do drag and dance, which is a like a full production. Now even though people know me they have preconceived notions about whether the audience will accept this,” says Sushant.