S2 Ep6: Vishaal Reddy

Queering Desi

In honor of Pride month, we're celebrating with brand new episodes every week!
This week, we chat with Vishaal Reddy, the star and creator of the new limited series, "Insomnia," about a bisexual Indian man who moonlights as an escort. Vishaal talks about the real-life incident behind the inception of the show, and the lack of representation that drove him to write it. Priya and Vishaal discuss the (absence of) on-screen portrayal of South Asian sexuality and desirability, and Vishaal delves into the research behind depicting sex work on the show. Priya then asks about Vishaal's experiences as a bisexual man and how those inspired his character. Later, Vishaal talks about weaving various cultural aspects into the character, and what messages he hopes the audience takes from the show. The two wrap up with what Pride means to them now, Vishaal's advice for his younger self and unintentional (yummy!) dessert advice.
You can follow Vishaal on Twitter (@ReddySetGo1) and Instagram (@reddy2rumble). For more information, visit www.insomniatheshow.com and www.queeringdesi.com