A Mumbai home, a quiet and loud space for the queer community

On a slow morning at Suruj Rajkhowa’s home in Mumbai a gamosa, a traditional handwoven Assamese cloth, rests on a mannequin in the corner. She had hosted a Bihu celebration at her residence with friends and family, and the house still carries traces of the gathering from the night before.

Sunlight filters through the curtain of plants by the window onto a bed propped up in the living room, occupied by a friend visiting Mumbai. The living room is open and flooded with light. Plants sway gently with the breeze as you make your way toward the cerulean seating tucked closely together, with the intention of facilitating comfort and conversation. The rest of the floor remains open, for when Suruj and her friends work on performances, discuss new ideas, or simply hang out. The room feels prepared for company. 

A Space for Chosen Family

The shelves are littered with awards celebrating her work in fashion, alongside memorabilia from past drag performances. Among them is a framed photograph of Suruj by renowned photographer Tim Walker, carrying a handwritten note christening her as the one with “the coolest energy in all Bombay”. There is an order to the maximalism—a workstation sits tucked away in the corner dedicated entirely to drag, with everything from a sewing machine and mannequin to stacked boxes of make-up, fabrics, wigs, and ornaments. A large mirror faces the seating area for days spent rehearsing performances with fellow drag artists. Above it hangs a pull-down backdrop, functional for shooting content during the day and just as easily transformed into a screen for movie nights in. At the end of the day, the warm glow of lamps lights up the surroundings for shared meals with friends who, over time, have become family.