‘A Nice Indian Boy’ tackles stigma of homosexuality among South Asians

The film is directed by Roshan Sethi, a physician, screenwriter, and director who began writing as a student at Harvard Medical School and co-created Fox’s The Resident while finishing his residency. He still works part time in palliative care at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and serves on the faculty of his alma mater. Sethi is also the co-writer of Call Jane, starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, which premiered at Sundance 2022. He recently debuted his film, World’s Best, on Disney+, which stars Utkarsh Ambudkar and was produced by Tommy Kail.

While it is a light-hearted romantic comedy, A Nice Indian Boy also addresses same-sex marriages in the South Asian community, as it dives into the community’s perception on societal expectations—not only when it comes to marriages, but also individual family members living up to the “perfect version” of who they should appear to be. The South Asian version of “keeping up with the Joneses.” In addition to Naveen and Jay’s story, the film weaves through the various narratives of each of their family members, highlighting their own personal challenges and desires in life.

The stigma surrounding homosexuality in South Asian communities is deeply rooted in cultural traditions and historical conservatism. For many families, marriage isn’t just a personal milestone, but a collective responsibility. It’s about ensuring continuity, upholding family honor, and securing social status. When a child deviates from this path, it isn’t just seen as a personal choice but as a disruption to the entire family structure.

Stories like A Nice Indian Boy highlight the importance of dialogue and awareness in breaking down the stigma surrounding same-sex marriages in South Asian communities. Acceptance doesn’t happen in a day, but every step toward understanding is a step toward a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Naveen’s story isn’t just about a nice Indian boy—it’s about every LGBTQ+ individual who dares to dream beyond societal expectations, proving that love, in all its forms, deserves to be celebrated.

JoySauce chatted with Sethi and Soni, also a real life couple, about bringing this story to the screen, their own upcoming wedding, the challenges of finding a priest to be a part of the film, and more.