Shweta Tripathi's Play 'Cock' Promotes LGBTQ+ Representation in Indian Theatre

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): Actress-producer Shweta Tripathi's drama 'Cock' received rave reviews during Pride month in Mumbai and Delhi. She said queer stories are not seasonal but human ones that deserve respect all year round. Shweta is planning to take the play to other cities in India under her stage production company 'Almighty'.

Shweta said, "This drama is very close to my heart. As an ally, we should promote these stories every day. These are human stories that should get space and respect." She said that as an artist she feels a responsibility to show the diversity of the world we live in.

'Cock' is a drama based on themes such as love, identity and sexuality. Written by British playwright Mike Bartlett and directed by Manish Gandhi, the play tells the story of a man who is torn between his old male partner and his attraction to a woman.

The play is sparking important discussions about LGBTQ+ representation in Indian theatre. Shweta said that she plans to take the play to more cities by 2025 and 2026, so that the conversation continues with new audiences. Apart from the play, Shweta is preparing for her first film as a producer, which will be a poignant queer love story. Talking about acting, Shweta was seen in Vipul Mehta's comedy film 'Kanjoos Makhichoos' in the year 2023.

'Kanjoos Makhichoos' is produced by Thundersky Entertainment along with Soham Rockstar Entertainment. The film is based on the famous Gujarati play 'Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo'. The film stars Kunal Khemu, Piyush Mishra, Alka Amin and Rajiv Gupta in important roles along with Shweta Tripathi. 'Kanjoos Makhichoos', released on ZEE5, was the last film of comedian Raju Srivastava.