Himanshi Aggarwal is a freelance journalist currently pursuing her Master’s in Journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia. Her interests lie in stories related to politics, human rights, and social issues, though she also enjoys exploring social media, pop culture and art. She also loves music, cats, and flowers. You can find her on Instagram: @byemanshi.
With the recent restoration and re-release of Umrao Jaan (1981), Himanshi Aggarwal revisits the film from a queer lens, as Rekha’s titular character serves as an allegory for anyone forced to perform respectability in a world that denies them legitimacy.