Overview

• Gay Bombay presented the Icon Award to the filmmaker on September 21 in Mumbai.
• The accolade recognizes individuals who advance queer representation and rights in society.
• Onir said he often felt alone early in his career and now views the honour as a commitment to stories that are not silenced and identities not questioned.
• Founded in 1998, Gay Bombay supports LGBTQ+ communities through workshops, film screenings, awareness campaigns, and social events.
• His work—including My Brother…Nikhil and the National Award-winning I Am—brought LGBTQIA+ lives into mainstream Indian cinema, and he said receiving the award in Mumbai felt especially meaningful.