Konkona Sen Sharma Says 'Accused' Doesn’t Treat Queerness as ‘An Issue’
Konkona Sen Sharma is preparing to take on one of her most complex roles yet in Accused - but it’s not just the psychological tension that sets the film apart.
In the upcoming Netflix thriller, Sharma plays a London-based doctor whose life begins to unravel after she is accused of predatory behaviour at work. At the centre of the storm is her relationship with Meera, played by Pratibha Ranta.
Yet, according to Sharma, the film does something rare: it refuses to treat the character’s sexuality as the central “issue.”
Moving Beyond ‘Issue-Based’ Queer Representation
Speaking in a recent interview, Sharma reflected on how LGBTQ+ characters have historically been portrayed in Indian cinema.
“We often will not have characters in films who are homosexual unless we are dealing with it as an issue,” she said. “Or unless, a few decades back, we are deriving some kind of derogatory humour from it.”
She drew parallels with how other marginalised identities are frequently depicted only when their difference becomes the sole focus of the narrative. In contrast, Accused presents a same-sex relationship as part of everyday life rather than a dramatic headline.
“Yes, it is a homosexual couple,” she explained. “But it is not there on the face. It does not come across very preachy. The situations are very real — the lack of trust, the way one might go to any extent for their partner - until you realise there’s more beneath the surface.”
A Relationship Under Pressure
While the film centres on serious allegations and the psychological fallout that follows, the relationship between Geetika and Meera unfolds like that of any couple facing strain.
Ranta has shared that when she first read the script, the characters did not feel defined by their sexuality. Instead, they felt recognisable - flawed, intimate and emotionally layered.
As public scrutiny intensifies within the story, Geetika’s carefully built professional reputation begins to crumble, placing immense pressure on her closest relationship. The tension between perception and truth drives the emotional core of the narrative.
A High-Profile Creative Team
Directed by Anubhuti Kashyap and written by Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, the film is backed by producers including Karan Johar, Adar Poonawala and Somen Mishra.
Blending psychological drama with intimate relationship dynamics, Accused appears poised to spark conversation - not only for its premise, but for its matter-of-fact portrayal of a queer couple navigating crisis.
Accused premieres on Netflix on February 27, 2026.
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