India’s Ishaan Khatter says his ‘objectification’ in The Perfect Couple made his character unique

Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter is making waves with his latest Netflix show, the Nicole Kidman-lead murder mystery The Perfect Couple. The series marks his second major English-language role — his first being in the 2020 hit British miniseries A Suitable Boy.

The actor, known for picking dynamic roles in an attempt to disassociate from the “nepo baby” label, discussed how this experience was both unique and groundbreaking for him as a brown actor in Western media. In an interview with BBC Asia’s Haroon Rashid, he also shared his thoughts on being objectified as a South Asian man in the series.

The Perfect Couple sees Khatter play Shooter, a rich Indian guy who’s also eye candy for the ladies — a lens South Asian men aren’t typically viewed from in global cinema.

When Rashid pointed out that while South Asian women, such as Priyanka Chopra or Deepika Padukone, have been cast in desirable roles in Baywatch and xXx, men from the same region are rarely portrayed as objects of desire, Khatter agreed.

“Yes, I was objectified,” he said. “It was one of the things that made the character unique and appealing to me,” he admitted. “It was also one of the things that makes it a stepping stone and kind of a moment in history in that sense. Without making it any bigger than needed, I just thought it was a cool character. It was fun to play into that and I don’t think I’ve played a role quite similar to this even back home.”

Khatter’s portrayal of Shooter is notable not just for the attention the character’s appearance has garnered, but also for the depth the actor was able to bring to the role. He emphasised that while the role does involve objectification, it’s part of a larger, more complex character, something that Western media has often lacked in its portrayal of South Asian men.

“I never found myself drawn to that kind of opportunity. It’s something that plays into my choices. For me, the most reassuring thing about it was that it didn’t feel like a token diversity character,” Khattar explained. “I believe they were casting across the board. So I saw an opportunity to sink my teeth into a three-dimensional character and play just a part in the grand scheme of things. And what a part.”

Khatter’s role in The Perfect Couple represents a shift in Hollywood and its portrayal of South Asian men. It also reflects how South Asian characters had been limited to stereotypes or background performers in the past.

Khatter saw The Perfect Couple as more than just an opportunity to be showcased for his looks. He saw it as a moment to redefine the boundaries of representation for South Asian men in mainstream Western media.