House of Pride: How Soho House Mumbai Does Pride with Purpose
Inside Soho House Mumbai’s quietly radical month of celebration
Since it opened its palm-fringed doors in 2018, Soho House Mumbai has earned a reputation as the city’s most aesthetically pleasing haven for creative minds, cocktails, and conversation.
But this June, as in the last few Junes, the House becomes something altogether more meaningful: a vibrant, layered stage for queer celebration, storytelling, and reflection.
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You won’t find empty rainbows here. Instead, Pride at Soho House Mumba is a carefully curated series of events that move with intention—cinema, theatre, talks, markets, and dance floors that together suggest a kind of blueprint for how to do Pride without slipping into the usual, shiny, performative gloss. It’s a rare thing: a Pride programme that knows joy is political, that the small, quiet moments are often the most radical.
The Curtain Rises: COCK, 5 June
The month begins not with glitter, but with theatre. COCK—Mike Bartlett’s taut, acid-etched play on sexuality and identity—gets a local staging, directed by Manish Gandhi and featuring a stellar cast including Tanmay Dhanania and Rytasha Rathore. Set to a soundscape by Kaizad Gherda, it’s a production that promises to challenge, entertain, and leave you ever so slightly off-balance. Exactly as it should.
The Return of Pride x Film Weekend, 31 May–1 June
Now in its second year, Pride x Film Weekend is fast becoming one of the House’s most beloved traditions. Curated by Soho House Mumbai’s Cinema programmer, Paloma Joseph, along with Sakshi Juneja of Gaysi Family and filmmaker Jaydeep Sarkar, the two-day affair is more than just a film screening series, these are exclusive previews. So expect a cinematic gathering of memory, desire, and dialogue.
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Rare archival gems include Badnam Basti and BOMgAY sit alongside premieres like the diaspora romance A Nice Indian Boy. Post-film discussions ensure the conversations don’t end when the credits roll. “This wasn’t just entertainment…it’s an invitation to reflect on who we are, and where we’re going,” says Sarkar.
Paloma Joseph, Cinema Programmer, Soho House Mumbai shared, “I was able to contribute with my own curatorial experience and leverage the access of Soho House Mumbai into getting the right kind of films and talent to the Pride x Film Weekend in 2024 and 2025.
“Last year, it was an absolute pleasure to open our doors to queer filmmakers, writers, and film buffs from across the city and beyond. Each event was packed. The House was alive and buzzing for two straight days—and I expect nothing less this year.”
Intimacy Over Agendas: Table Talk, 12 June
Mid-month, the Library plays host to Table Talk—an intentionally agenda-less, member-led conversation circle. No moderators. No stage. Just voices. The theme? Coming out, staying in, and the everyday negotiations of queer identity in India today. It’s storytelling in its softest form—and, arguably, its most powerful.
As Juneja says: “Pride isn’t only about the parade. It’s also about sitting with someone else’s truth and learning from it.”
Design Meets Identity: Queer Creators Market, All Month
Throughout June, the Club Floor transforms into a revolving showcase of queer-led brands. Fashion, grooming, interiors—every week brings in a new set of voices, a new set of hands. It’s retail, yes, but also a reclamation. A reminder that identity, like design, is best expressed when it's not trying to conform.
The Big Night: Girls & Gays, 14 June
Of course, no Pride would be complete without a proper knees-up. Girls & Gays, returning on 14 June, is Soho House Mumbai’s marquee party—irreverent, irrepressible, and a little bit unhinged in all the best ways.
Previous edition has featured drag kings, dominatrix-led cabaret, and DJ sets from the likes of Suman Sridhar and Natasha Mendonca. But the real star? The crowd. Loud, brilliant, and unapologetically themselves.
Tenderness, On Tap: Queerly Beloved, 27 June
Rounding off the month with a gentler touch is Queerly Beloved, a no-pressure mixer that trades strobe lights for candlelight. It’s the antidote to every awkward dating app interaction you’ve ever had. A space where you might meet someone, or no one, but you’ll certainly leave feeling like you belonged. Which, really, is the point.
“Partnering with Soho House Mumbai has allowed us to bring these stories to life in a space that truly values creativity, dialogue, and community. Pride Month gives us visibility, yes, but it’s what we do with that visibility — how we hold each other, how we honour our narratives — that really matters. This weekend isn’t just a festival. It’s our way of showing up for each other, with care, creativity, and a whole lot of joy," shared Sakshi Juneja about the upcoming celebrations.