Leela Varghese on Brown Girls Telling Queer Stories

Leela Varghese was once told there weren’t any roles for her on Australian screens. So she stopped chasing auditions and picked up a camera instead. Now her films, including 'Lesbian Space Princess' and 'I'm The Most Racist Person I Know' (screening at MIFF this year), are crashing festivals around the world. In this episode, the Lebanese-Indian filmmaker speaks with Suhayla Sharif about growing up brown in Queensland, making space for queer South Asian stories, and why confronting internalised prejudice starts with gentle honesty. Listen now on SBS Spice.

Presenter-turned-filmmaker Leela Varghese chats to SBS Spice on how working in Australian TV shaped her own lens on the world.

If you want authentic South Asian stories, it's making sure that the representation is both on screen and behind the camera.

Leela Varghese

SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and the SBS Audio app. Or tap the audio player to listen to the full episode.

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