A still from Shonali Bose's film Margarita with a Straw.
As India continues to battle with the problem of marginalization of people with disabilities, the team of the Bollywood's latest 'Margarita with a Straw', have a made a conscious effort to bat for inclusion.
Speaking to NDTV, director Shonali Bose said, "The idea is to get past the disability and treat people with disabilities normally. Malini and I grew up normally and like all siblings we too had our share of fun and fights."
Malini Chib, who has cerebral palsy, is the author of the book, 'One Little Finger'. Actor Kalki Koechlin's character in the film, Laila, is inspired by Ms Chib.
"The idea was not to imitate Malini. The idea was to create a character as strong as her with her spirit. I had told Shonali that I would take time to prepare for the role and I spent a lot of time with Malini to learn about her challenges and how she overcame them", said Kalki Koechlin.
Malini Chib told NDTV that she had seen the film and was impressed. "People should watch the film. Inclusion is important and the film has shown that," she added.
'Margarita with a Straw' is a film about a rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy who leaves India to study in New York. There she falls in love and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery. The film was released countrywide on Friday.