As we revealed yesterday, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal had a special announcement today and we have the scoop! A new short film titled TAPS. In the month of Valentine’s, love takes the spotlight in all its beautiful, boundless forms as an LGBTQ+ relationship drama, TAPS will be released on YouTube.
Directed by Arvind Caulagi and produced by National Award-winning filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria along with KASHISH Film Festival and Lotus Visual Productions, the short film first made waves at prestigious film festivals and is now set to reach an even wider audience. Starring debutant Ullas Samrat and Rohit Mehra, the film lends an intimate look at how a couple navigates their way back to each other. For Ali and Richa, both vocal advocates for inclusivity and storytelling that matters, bringing TAPS to a global stage is a commitment to amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. The film, which won the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant, was lauded for its delicate yet powerful portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships.
Richa Chadha said, “Cinema is powerful because it can shift perspectives. TAPS is one of those stories that gently yet powerfully peels back the layers of identity, love, and self-acceptance. We’ve had so many conversations about representation in media, and to be able to support a film that does it right is a privilege. We want people to open their hearts a little more. Watch TAPS with your partner, your friends, yourself—let it move you, let it stay with you.”
Ali Fazal said, “Love has always been painted in broad strokes—roses, candlelight, grand gestures. But love is so much more than that. TAPS captures something intimate, raw, and real. It reminds us that love isn’t just about who we love but how we love—with honesty, courage, and resilience. Richa and I felt strongly that a film like this deserved to be seen by as many people as possible. The fact that we can bring this story to the world—it feels just right.”
Producer Sudhanshu Saria said, “TAPS reminded me of when I was making my first film LOEV ten years ago. It felt like the perfect way to build on LOEV’s legacy in queer cinema by supporting another story that normalizes queer representation on our screens and talks about the everyday issues one faces in relationships, whether gay or not. I’ve known Ali since we were in school and I’m so proud of the love and authenticity with which Richa and him live their life. To have them join hands with us in presenting this film feels like a perfect celebration of what this film stands for.”
Producer Neeraj Churi said, “Stories like TAPS are about representation and holding a mirror to society, asking if we are ready to accept love in all its forms. This film is intimate yet universal, tender yet powerful. When we first saw what Arvind had created, we knew it had to reach beyond just film festival audiences. We wanted it to touch people in their homes, in their hearts. That’s why having Ali and Richa champion it means so much—it ensures that TAPS isn’t just a moment, but a movement.”
Quote for Kashish Foundation: “We live in a world where love is still policed, where identity is still debated, and where so many individuals are still searching for acceptance. TAPS subtly makes us think about why we still struggle to embrace love in all its diversity. Through this film, we hope to spark more dialogue, to encourage empathy, and to remind people that queer stories are not separate from human stories. They are woven into the same fabric of longing, joy, heartbreak, and triumph that defines all love stories. The more we normalize these narratives, the closer we get to a future where love is truly free.
TAPS is a film by Sudhanshu Saria’s Four Line Entertainment in collaboration with the KASHISH Arts Foundation and Lotus Visual Production. Arvind Caulagi serves as both the writer and director of the film.
