Young
Maradona
Rebello
had
to
do
some
very
strange
and
unconventional
things
in
his
debut
film
Pankh,
like
getting
smooched
by
a
man
and
go
completely
nude
in
front
of
his
screen
mother,
played
by
Lilette
Dubey.
Confesses
Maradona,
"It's
been
a
harrowing
time
for
me.
I've
given
the
role
everything
because
I
believed
in
the
film.
It's
the
story
of
a
pushy
mother
and
a
male
child
who's
pushed
into
the
movies
dressed
as
a
girl.
My
character
grows
up
confused
about
his
sexuality.
I
had
to
do
many
things
that
didn't
come
naturally
to
me
because
I'm
a
straight
guy
I
had
to
kiss
a
man,
get
pushed
around
by
him."
Worst
of
all
was
the
cross-dressing
scenes.
Shivers
Maradona,
"When
I
came
on
the
set
in
a
dress
wearing
stocking
and
lipstick
my
director
Sudipto-da
freaked
out.
He
was
so
apologetic.
He
asked
everyone
to
leave
the
sets.
I
told
him
to
chill.
But
in
the
nights
I
just
couldn't
sleep.
I
was
harrowed.
Luckily
my
parents
supported
me.
They
saw
the
film
and
loved
my
performance.
My
mom
didn't
flinch
even
when
I
stripped
in
front
of
my
screen-mother."
The
character
has
changed
Maradona's
life.
"I
know
I'm
straight.
But
playing
a
guy
confused
about
his
sexuality
can
shake
you
completely."
The
boy
can
breathe
a
sigh
of
relief
about
his
second
film
Dunno
Y
...
Jaane
Kyun."Here
I'm
completely
straight.
In
fact
I'm
straight
in
Pankh
as
well.
But
throughout
the
film
I
had
to
keep
trying
to
prove
to
the
world
that
I
am
not
gay." At
the
climax
of
the
film
Maradona
had
to
take
off
all
his
clothes
and
show
his
screen
mom
Lilette
Dubey
he's
a
man.
Explains
Maradona,
"Right
through
the
film
she
keeps
taunting
me
that
I
am
no
man.
Finally
in
a
fit
of
rage
I
had
to
undress
and
show
her
that
I
am
a
man.
It
was
a
very
difficult
scene
to
do.
Fortunately
Lilette
Dubey
made
me
very
comfortable.
Before
the
scene
she
hugged
me
and
said
it'd
be
fine.
And
it
was."
Worst
was
the
plight
of
being
kissed
by
a
man.
"My
co-star
Amit
Purohit
had
to
kiss
me
right
here
at
Marine
Drive.
Luckily
it
was
the
night
and
not
too
many
people
were
around." Ironically,
in
his
second
film
Maradona
has
an
affair
with
his
sister-in-law
married
to
his
gay
brother.
"I
can't
reveal
much
about
the
part.
But
I
got
to
work
with
screen
divas
like
Zeenat
Aman
and
Helen.
Not
bad
for
my
second
film."
As
for
being
accepted
as
a
gay
role-model
after
the
release
of
Pankh
Maradona
says,
"Why
not?
If
people
of
either
sex
find
me
attractive
I'm
fine
by
it
as
long
as
I
remain
happily
heterosexual
in
real
life."
Story first published: Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 15:27 [IST]