Bollywood's first gay tough guy?

With homosexuality getting increased acceptance in the country, isn���t it time for Bollywood to get a gay, macho character? Actually, it might already have ��� in Charlie, the lisping ���bad boy��� hero in this year���s hit, Kaminey.

From bloggers to critics, many have speculated about the sexuality of the character portrayed by Shahid Kapoor. To begin with, Charlie lisps ��� a standard gay stereotype.

Apart from that, his relationship with Mikhail has distinctly homoerotic undertones. The two sing duets in a psychedelic nightclub, dance in the rain and make plans to run away ��� while rolling on the floor together ��� when Charlie tells Mikhail about the stash of cocaine he has chanced upon? And a scene where Mikhail chases Charlie in a red sports car, amidst pouring rain, would have had Freud smiling in glee.

What about the ending, which shows Charlie, hitched to a gorgeous gal? Blogger Ganesh Chandrashekhar argues that it���s a post-death dream. ������Charlie dreams of being a successful bookie and married to a woman. This looks like Charlie���s homosexual guilt coming through, because the addition of a female character in the end seemed rather contrived, suggesting that he hopes to be straight in a highly homophobic society.������

Other bloggers have pointed to Charlie���s emotional breakdown when he sees Mikhail���s corpse. And they see heavy symbolism in Charlie naming his dream bookie venture ���Mikhail & Co.���, which is set up after he steals diamonds. Which by implication means Charlie stole diamonds for Mikhail. If that isn���t true love, what is?

Chandan Roy Sanyal, who plays Mikhail, says he is aware of such arguments. ������I don���t think the two are gay, they just share a brotherly relationship. I grew up like this with my brother, a lot of bonding, touching,������ he laughs. But he welcomes the buzz about the characters. ������People thinking that Charlie is gay shows they are ready to accept that gay men do not have to be overtly effeminate,������ says Sanyal, adding that he would love to play a role like Sean Penn in the Hollywood film Milk.

But Bollywood is only taking baby steps with movies like Dostana, says film critic Anupama Chopra. ������We still portray gay men with limp wrists and rainbow-coloured accessories, mostly cast as a comic relief. It is a long time till we get a gay hero who is macho enough to be the lead actor. In fact, Vishal Bhardwaj told me if a sequel is made, Charlie will have a girlfriend,������ she says. As conspiracy theorists might say, ������Fo fad���.