Apurva Asrani: When I came out to my parents, my dad was so hurt, he didn’t talk to me for over two years

In a heartfelt conversation with Bombay Times, Apurva Asrani, the award-winning editor and screenwriter of Aligarh, opened up on what it takes for a homosexual man to come out publicly and the storms that he must brave. He recalled how he had come out to his parents at the age of 20.
"The day I came out to my parents, the biggest burden of my life was lifted. I was 20 at the time and I knew that this would cause them pain, but I also knew deep down that they truly love me, and will accept me eventually.People have said to me, ‘You come from a fairly well-off, urban, educated family and so, coming out couldn’t have been so bad,’ but that’s not true.
When I came out to my parents, my dad was so hurt, he didn’t talk to me for over two years. My mother was crushed, too. She said that the trauma reminded her of the time when her father was diagnosed with cancer. And my parents are well-educated, city-bred people, who have travelled the world. So, acceptance has nothing to do with education," he said.
For the full conversation, read tomorrow's edition of Bombay Times