20 years of My Brother… Nikhil: Sanjay Suri recalls, “It was an unknown territory for many, people doubted if it would ever be released or get any audience”

By Subhash K. Jha -

March 27, 2025 - 12:50 PM IST

Filmmaker Onir’s My Brother… Nikhil completed 20 years earlier this week. Starring Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri, it told the story of a queer individual. The film also marked Suri’s debut as a producer. On the film’s 20^th anniversary, he looks back at it fondly in an interview with us.

20 years of My Brother… Nikhil: Sanjay Suri recalls, “It was an unknown territory for many, people doubted if it would ever be released or get any audience”

Sanjay, 20 years of your most important work as an actor

And producer. Don’t forget I also produced My Brother…Nikhil. Wow! It's already been 20 years and we just had a screening in Delhi for the film celebrating twenty years of MBN. All my memories were refreshed and looking back I felt emotional. Watching the film still got me emotional at the exact moments as it did 20 years ago.

My Brother… Nikhil is still a labour of love

Some films get made with money and some with love and support of everyone involved and that was the case of My Brother… Nikhil. Of course, funds are needed, but then the amount of love, support and the willingness to create something that touched all made all the difference. From the idea to scripting it, to pitching the film, doing a pitch photoshoot with my brother Raj Suri, then going to producers to fund the film and then eventually deciding to produce the film ourselves was quite a journey.

Producers refused to back the film?

I am glad that all those people said no to the film then. That gave us the freedom to make the film we wanted. When we made it, there was no creative interference at all and we were able to make it independently. It was me, Onir, Raj Kaushal (sadly lost him) and Vicky Tejwani, who came together and went ahead to make the film.

It was quite a risk

It was an unknown territory for many, and many doubted if it would ever be released or get any audiences or have any impact as not many LGBT themed films we made back then.

You also agreed to play the gay protagonist

Many told me this would be a commercial suicide if I played the gay protagonist. I think all the NOs made our decision stronger and the more the resistance, the more I wanted to do it. Sometimes rejection can bring energy into your journey, if you are determined. Exactly the same happened with us. We finished shooting the film in about 22 days.

You are kidding!

Yes, we were that focussed. My Brother… Nikhil was finally released in the theatres and I remember how guests at the premier were deeply moved. Normally, films have their festival journey first and then they are released. For us it was the opposite for MBN. Later, it was selected to screen at the largest LGBT festival ‘Frameline’ on Castro Street San Francisco and the world got introduced to MBN. We got a standing ovation and in fact many came up to us and thanked us for making the film and said, ‘It helps us understand our children better’ as the stigma still persisted in the West even when they had witnessed it all in the 1990s. From there, the film travelled to many festivals, universities and also back home in India it was extensively used for sensitizations and advocacy by many, including the armed forces.

This film actually changed lives

Yes, I know for a fact it changed people's lives and how they think, be it while growing up for youngsters or their parents. We have many, many who have come up to us during various screenings or via messages telling us that the film gave them their voice and also helped them live a more inclusive life. But I have one hurt hidden in my heart.

What is that?

No Indian award was given to the film or its cast and crew. The National Award that year was not announced for some reason and the next year, Black got it for the previous year. I wonder if things would have been different today!