--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a long time we have just seen…" description: "\"For a long time we have just seen caricatures of gay characters. I honestly would not have done such roles unless I was sure that the director would de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/arjun-mathur-5846_director_for-a-long-time-we-have-just-seen-carica_1549381.jpg" --- # For a long time we have just seen caricatures of gay… ![“For a long time we have just seen caricatures of gay characters. I honestly would not have done such roles unless I was sure that the director would deal with them sensitively. Mira Nair, Onir, and Zoya Akhtar are such directors.” quote by Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/arjun-mathur-5846_director_for-a-long-time-we-have-just-seen-carica_1549381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/arjun-mathur-5846_director_for-a-long-time-we-have-just-seen-carica_1549381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/arjun-mathur-5846_director_for-a-long-time-we-have-just-seen-carica_1549381.jpg) > “For a long time we have just seen caricatures of gay characters. I honestly would not have done such roles unless I was sure that the director would deal with them sensitively. Mira Nair, Onir, and Zoya Akhtar are such directors.” [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes the need for sensitive portrayal of gay characters and trusts directors who handle them with care. **In simple terms:** Sensitive gay roles need careful direction. Key Takeaway Choose directors who respect the characters. Themes representation authenticity trust film LGBTQ+ Mood thoughtful hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - casting decisions - scriptwriting - director collaboration Key Concepts character development ethical storytelling industry standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a director’s sensitivity? - What impact does authentic representation have? A Different Perspective Risk of tokenism if not handled genuinely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Directing Mr. Mohanlal was a delight. He's completely there and wanting to know what you want him to do. He's very keen on making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prithviraj-sukumaran/directing-mr-mohanlal-was-a-delight-he-s-completely-there-and-wanting/) [Prithviraj Sukumaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prithviraj-sukumaran/) > [Now, it's weird not to have gay characters on a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/now-it-s-weird-not-to-have-gay-characters-on-a-show/) [Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/) > [I think it's very important that, you know, gay actors get to play gay characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-think-it-s-very-important-that-you-know-gay-actors-get-to-play-gay/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I feel like, for so many years in the industry, LGBT-identifying actors were told to play small or water themselves down or 'butch it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-feel-like-for-so-many-years-in-the-industry-lgbt-identifying-actors/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [It's weird because I see black gay characters on television all the time, but do I relate to them? Not always, because they're set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/it-s-weird-because-i-see-black-gay-characters-on-television-all-the/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Cinema is actually very backward. When we see gay characters or people of color, they're always there for that reason. I'm personally kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/cinema-is-actually-very-backward-when-we-see-gay-characters-or-people/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [ I'm interested in gay characters - not trying to sensationalize gay characters, just \[representing\] who are in my personal life. I'm interested in exploring… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-babbit/i-m-interested-in-gay-characters-not-trying-to-sensationalize-gay/) [Jamie Babbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-babbit/) > [I kind of cheer the presence of any gay characters at all - I think the more we can saturate television with any gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-tyler-ferguson/i-kind-of-cheer-the-presence-of-any-gay-characters-at-all-i-think-the/) [Jesse Tyler Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-tyler-ferguson/) > [As an actor, it was important to me to play gay characters because, growing up, it was something I never really saw done on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/as-an-actor-it-was-important-to-me-to-play-gay-characters-because/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I dont want to just play gay characters, ... I think it would get boring to play the same thing again and again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-everett/i-dont-want-to-just-play-gay-characters-i-think-it-would-get-boring/) [Rupert Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-everett/) > [I don't think there is a guy that played more gay characters than I have done in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-guy-that-played-more-gay-characters-than-i/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I had played many gay characters before, but they were finite - guest characters in TV shows or characters in plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-had-played-many-gay-characters-before-but-they-were-finite-guest/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [When we have gay characters on TV, they're just, kind of, gay for the sake of being gay. That's their personality. That's their whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/when-we-have-gay-characters-on-tv-they-re-just-kind-of-gay-for-the/) [Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/) > [I feel like because I've done more gay characters, gay scenes, or gay projects than most straight actors, people see it as some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-feel-like-because-i-ve-done-more-gay-characters-gay-scenes-or-gay/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I probably haven't had enough gay characters in my stuff. When you're writing something, you're thinking, 'Why couldn't this person be black, white, gay?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-probably-haven-t-had-enough-gay-characters-in-my-stuff-when-you-re/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) ## More by Arjun Mathur > [I don't feel the need to be seen for the sake of being seen. If there is work that's worth seeing, then I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/i-don-t-feel-the-need-to-be-seen-for-the-sake-of-being-seen-if-there/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [Films are not my bread and butter. I do ads. I've survived through ads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/films-are-not-my-bread-and-butter-i-do-ads-i-ve-survived-through-ads/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [For 'Made In Heaven,' I have got a lot of love, recognition and appreciation from the audience and industry alike. But that's that. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/for-made-in-heaven-i-have-got-a-lot-of-love-recognition-and/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [Art can help steer important conversations in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/art-can-help-steer-important-conversations-in-the-right-direction/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [I was once even told by a producer that I couldn't be part of his film because I was better than the protagonist. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/i-was-once-even-told-by-a-producer-that-i-couldn-t-be-part-of-his/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [I am not calculative about my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/i-am-not-calculative-about-my-career/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [An actor's life pretty much goes hand in hand with negative feelings like insecurity, envy and self-doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/an-actor-s-life-pretty-much-goes-hand-in-hand-with-negative-feelings/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [All these years, and even as a teenager growing up in a time when a lot of socio-political changes were taking place, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/all-these-years-and-even-as-a-teenager-growing-up-in-a-time-when-a/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [I wanted to connect to audiences' intelligence, focused on being a dependable actor and not a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/i-wanted-to-connect-to-audiences-intelligence-focused-on-being-a/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [Delhi honestly every time I come back is a changed place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/delhi-honestly-every-time-i-come-back-is-a-changed-place/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [There's a certain breed of actors who has been always experimenting irrespective of the social landscape for the mediums of entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/there-s-a-certain-breed-of-actors-who-has-been-always-experimenting/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [Bollywood's space is reserved for star kids and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/bollywood-s-space-is-reserved-for-star-kids-and-what-not/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [It's sad to see when people don't take a stand, just because they might lose followers, or a business deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/it-s-sad-to-see-when-people-don-t-take-a-stand-just-because-they/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [You have to ensure box office returns for someone to place confidence in you and make content with you, whether you are a writer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/you-have-to-ensure-box-office-returns-for-someone-to-place-confidence/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [As an artiste, as a person who has a voice, I feel strongly about not creating anything empty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/as-an-artiste-as-a-person-who-has-a-voice-i-feel-strongly-about-not/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) [Explore all 100 Arjun Mathur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For a long time we have just seen caricatures of gay characters. 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