Hansal
Mehta's
2016
film
Aligarh
received
much
critical
acclaim,
but
it
was
also
marred
by
controversy
at
the
time
of
its
release.
The
film,
which
is
based
on
the
real
life
story
of
a
gay
professor
at
Aligarh
Muslim
University,
was
met
with
resistance
by
some
alumni
of
the
University.
In
a
recent
interview,
Hansal
opened
up
on
why
he
feels
the
need
to
address
important
issues
through
his
films,
and
also
revealed
that
filmmaker
Karan
Johar
was
the
first
to
come
out
in
support
of
the
film.
Speaking
to
India
Today,
Hansal
said,
"Because
I
am
a
citizen
of
this
country
before
I
am
a
member
of
the
film
industry.
I
have
love
and
respect
for
my
colleagues.
Even
with
Karan
[Johar],
he
was
the
first
to
come
out
and
support
Aligarh.
Our
paths
had
never
crossed
until
then.
By
being
vocal
all
I
am
trying
to
say
is
that
'We
need
to
speak
up
for
ourselves
because
nobody
else
will'.
We
have
equal
rights
to
privacy,
to
be
heard
and
not
to
be
perceived
as
somebody
from
another
planet
which
is
a
creation
of
the
same
people
who
are
now
trying
to
bring
it
[the
industry]
down.
I
get
frustrated
seeing
the
silence."
Upon
the
film's
release,
Karan
Johar
had
tweeted,
"#Aligarh
is
exceptionally
poignant,moving
and
heartbreaking
in
equal
measure....a
relevant
and
important
film
of
our
times."
Aligarh
starred
Manoj
Bajpayee
and
Rajkummar
Rao
in
lead
roles.
The
film
was
written
by
Apurva
Asrani.
At
its
world
premiere
at
the
20th
Busan
International
Film
Festival,
Aligarh
received
a
standing
ovation
from
the
audience.