Sonam Kapoor, Ian McKellen Inaugurate Kashish Film Festival in Mumbai

Mumbai: Actress Sonam Kapoor and Hollywood actor Sir Ian McKellen inaugurated the Kashish Film Festival in Mumbai on May 25.

"I'm here for Kashish and I'm here because I strongly believe in what this film festival stands for. It's for basic human rights. It's not about being lesbian, gay, female, male, transsexual or anything. It's about being able to be who you want to be and somebody who is just themselves. I'm a strong supporter of basic human rights," said Sonam.

"I just want to say how happy I am to be at Kashish. It's my first visit to Mumbai. I made many friends already and I hope that I will make more friends this evening. I've come to Mumbai to celebrate Shakespeare and to celebrate the connections between the United Kingdom and your country. And I've also come to support those who want to get rid of Section 377," Sir Ian said.

At the launch of Shakespeare on Film with BFI and British Council, a global tour, and MAMI Film Club on Monday evening, Sir Ian, in a conversation with actor Aamir Khan, also spoke about his experience of revealing that he was a homosexual when he was an established actor at the age of 49. "I was 49 when I came out and it wasn't difficult because I was established as an actor and I was confident. To say it in public was a great relief and everything changed for the better. Be it your relationship, people around you or friends. My acting got better. I did not have to fake things," Sir Ian had said.

Kashish Film Festival is South Asia's biggest LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) film festival and this is the seventh edition of the festival.