Asian representation in Hollywood and International cinema is slowly growing. A new romance film is set to bring a British-Indian story to the forefront as Sushant Shekhar has been cast as the male lead in My Indian Boyfriend: The Golden Mile. The project, directed by Vijay Chauhan, is a U.K. remake of a Hong Kong romantic film and the cast was officially unveiled at the Cannes Film Market. The movie will explore themes of identity, family expectations and young love while being set against Leicester’s famous Diwali celebrations. Along with announcing Shekhar as the lead actor, the makers also confirmed several supporting cast members who will feature in the upcoming romantic drama.
Plot of My Indian Boyfriend
My Indian Boyfriend: The Golden Mile revolves around Krishna, a British-Indian dancer played by Sushant Shekhar (known for The Best Is Yet To Come and Jonathan Kent’s play Indian Ink). The character is described as someone caught between his personal ambitions and the pressures of family expectations. The story follows Krishna’s relationship with Jasmine, played by Jolene Tiong, an architecture graduate whose life becomes intertwined with his during a transformative summer in Leicester.
Sushant Shekhar is playing the lead in My Indian Boyfriend
A major backdrop of the film is Leicester’s annual Diwali celebrations, which are among the biggest outside India. The festive setting will reportedly play a very significant role in the narrative and emotional arc of the story. The film is being viewed as an effort to spotlight South Asian stories through an international lens.
With this film, Indian-origin Sushant Shekhar will be making his feature film debut. The actor is a graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’s MA Acting program and has also trained at the Fontainebleau School of Acting. Speaking about the opportunity, Shekhar expressed gratitude to the filmmakers and said he intends to approach the role with sincerity and dedication. “I’m deeply grateful to everyone involved in the production for entrusting me with the opportunity to portray Krishna,” the actor said while speaking about the film in a chat with Variety.
A still from My Indian Boyfriend (2021)
Cast of My Indian Boyfriend
Apart from Sushant Shekhar and Jolene Tiong, the makers have announced a supporting ensemble featuring actors from multiple international industries. Chacko George Vadaketh will play Krishna’s father in the film. Vadaketh is known for his work across television, film and theatre in Malaysia, Singapore and the United States. The supporting cast also includes Adryne Caulder-James and Jennifer Jade. Young actor Arun Sharma has also joined the ensemble while continuing his academic studies. The diverse cast and Cannes announcement is giving hopes that the film will be a much-needed representation for the Asian community.