Ameesha Patel says OTT Content is ‘Full of Homosexuality’

Ameesha Patel caused controversy when giving her opinion on whether the content on streaming platforms is too racy for Indian audiences.

While promoting her upcoming film Gadar 2, Ameesha claimed that audiences are hungry for “clean” entertainment, which cannot be found on OTT platforms.

Stating that OTT content is “full of homosexuality”, Ameesha said:

“People are waiting for good, clean cinema. The era where you could make cinema that a grandchild could sit and watch with a grandparent is completely missing.

“OTT for sure doesn’t give you that.

“Because OTT is full of homosexuality, gay-lesbianism… Scenes that you have to cover your kids’ eyes or actually put a child lock on your television so they can’t access those platforms.

“It’s not something you really want your kids to watch.”

She went on to say that Bollywood has always been synonymous with escapism.

Ameesha continued: “Indians couldn’t travel that much, we didn’t have that much fashion.

“Everything that you wanted was through cinema… We didn’t even have an organised music industry.

“You depended on film music; costumes, fashion, everything came from cinema, and I think people are missing that essence.

“Gadar, they feel, is an answer to that.”

She added that the filmmakers have tried to retain the “essence” of the first film in Gadar 2.

“It’s got the family values, it’s got the heart-wrenching moments, the great action, the dialogues, the music; everything you expect from Gadar is there.”

Ameesha Patel’s comments did not go down well, with many accusing her of being homophobic.

One Twitter user said: “Apparently you said in an interview that OTT is full of homosexuality and offensive to you.

“Maybe you don’t care about marginalised groups and their (long-due) representation on the screen… but other people do.”

“If you don’t like OTT, switch it off.”

Another said: “A very big shame on you.

“Sexism is also there in heterosexual relationships showing in OTT platforms. So kids and grandparents aren’t watching those. Why blame homosexuality?”

Uorfi Javed also reacted to Ameesha’s remarks and labelled the actress “bitter”.

In an Instagram Story, Uorfi wrote:

“What is actually gayism, lesbianism? Keep your children away from it?

“So when she said ‘kaho na Pyar hai’ she meant only straight people.

“Public figures speaking without educating themselves on such sensitive topics really irks me!

“Not getting work for 25 years has made her into a very bitter person.”