Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele, the upcoming Hindi film starring Zareen Khan and Anshuman Jha, will release on Disney+ Hostar on Sunday, the streaming service said in a press release on Monday.
Two friends set out on an adventure of a lifetime, and discover something beautiful that bonds them ✨
We’re all looking for a place to belong, someone to love 💕 Love is love 🏳️🌈
Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele is streaming on 9th May! pic.twitter.com/hFsPp1xcfe— Disney+HotstarVIP (@DisneyplusHSVIP) April 30, 2021
Khan and Jha portray Mansi and Veer, who are strangers and “proud members” of the LGBT+ community. According to the press release, the storyline of the film reads, “The film begins when a girl from Meerut, Mansi, a boy from Chandigarh, Veer, run away from their respective homes on their wedding day and bump into each other at a club in Delhi. As if fate had destined them to spend more time together, they both end up on a road trip together from Delhi to McLeod Ganj, which turns out to be a bonding experience for them like none other. As they get to know each other, Veer and Mansi uncover parts of themselves which makes them understand the meaning of real love and that it knows no bounds!”
The film, which touches upon homosexuality, friendship, and love, is written and directed by Harish Vyas and produced by the First Ray Films banner. Calling the film, a “human story of a special friendship that blooms by chance”, Vyas said, “My endeavour with this film is to bring forth the warm, positive, loving embrace that is the soul of friendship and to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community which I have been close to. After Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain [2017 romantic drama directed by Vyas], I wanted to follow up with a light, compassionate journey to re-discover love and friendship. Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele is the culmination of that thought.”
Khan said in a statement that she was “immediately drawn to the depth and emotionality” of her character during the narration. “Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele has been a life-changing experience for me,” she said.
Jha said that the film was special to him as this was his last work that his late mother had watched.
“We missed the theatre due to the pandemic but I couldn’t be happier that more audiences will be able to watch it on Disney+ Hotstar VIP. It’s my last work which my mother saw before I lost her in 2020 and it’s therefore even more special for me,” he said.
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“The Supreme Court of India has legalised homosexuality, but there is still a section of society that considers it a taboo in India and my character Veer hasn’t mustered up the courage to speak openly to his family because he fears that they won’t accept it too. With friendship and love at its core, Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele is a movie that will feel like a warm hug and hopefully inspire people to have more open conversations. Encourage acceptance,” he added.
The film won the Best Film-Audience Choice award at the HBO South Asian International Film Festival, New York in 2019. Jha won the Jury Award for Best Actor at the 2020 Rajasthan International Film Festival, while Khan won Best Actress in Hindi films and Vyas bagged the Best Director award. The film was also screened in the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2020 and Kashish 2020, the Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, the press release added.