Netflixs Boots introduces fans to Major Wilkinson, played by Sachin Bhatt, as a lovable and very memorable character in the series. Wilkinson is also established as the love interest of Sgt. Sullivan, played by Max Parker, and the two queer men do everything under their power to keep it a secret. Given that the hit Netflix series is set in 1990, even very basic policies like Don't Ask, Dont Tell are still not in place, meaning that a person in the LGBTQ+ community can be legally and literally discharged from U.S. military if exposed as being gay solely for being gay.The out actor from St. Louis, Missouri, whose family is from India, has been attached to projects such as The Company You Keep, Queer As Folk, Grace and Frankie, No Good Deed, and Monogamish, among others. In an era where Hollywood shies away from greenlighting or renewing LGBTQ+ content, Boots feels a unicorn, and thank gawd for that.Throughout the season, the (closeted) lovebirds played by Bhatt and Parker have undeniable chemistry between them and develop a pretty sweet relationship that gets regularly challenged by the world around them, but continues to be safe within the four walls of a hotel room where they often meet Or at least thats what were shown.Between uneven power dynamics, very different rankings as servicemen, and circumstances that lead up to a dramatic split, Bhatt breaks down the many layers in the relationship between Wilkinson and Sullivan during an interview with Out. Plus, the actor discusses queer Indian representation, the red flags of dating his character, and his thoughts on Wilkinsons lack of closure on Boots.Editors note: This article contains major spoilers from season 1 of Boots. Sachin BhattGrant Legan (@grantlegan)Out: Boots is finally here. How do you feel about this new project coming out?Sachin Bhatt: It feels great, but always a little scary to see what Ive done. [Laughs.]This show has been in the works for a long time. A few characters including yours, Major Wilkinson we only get to know in the second half of the season. When did you join the Boots cast, and what was that process like?No, I came in pretty late. I had my first audition in April, and then I had a callback a month later in May, and I got the part in June. I shot it in July [of 2024]. They had started, what The year before that [2023]?Did you do chemistry reads with Max Parker while auditioning, or when did you get to meet him?On my callback I read with one of the casting directors, Josh Ropiequet, so I didnt meet Max until I got to set.From a viewing perspective, Wilkinson and Sullivan have a lot of chemistry, so Im glad the chemistry was there when filming started.Yeah, and it was great. We went out to dinner and got to hang out a little bit. And then, on set, we had to just connect, try and meet each other halfway, and build some chemistry. Max Parker as Sgt. Sullivan and Sachin Bhatt as Captain Wilkinson together in bed on Boots.NetflixWhen I spoke with Max Parker about Boots, there was clear parallel between his personal life and Sgt. Sullivans journey. Parker was also closeted while starring in Emmerdale, and also had to navigate this sort of surveillance state regarding his sexuality. In your case, did you relate to anything specific about Major Wilkinson?I mean, Ive been out for a while [Laughs], but I will say that I play a major who isnt supposed to have any relationships with anyone in the Marines, and I am very familiar with keeping things secret. I can definitely relate to hiding a part of who I am.You and Max worked great as acting partners. Even after Sullivan makes a selfish decision that seemingly destroys Wilkinsons life and career, it was hard to just worrying about him. These are two queer men in the Marines who could officially, legally get discharged just for your sexuality. From my perspective, Wilkinson came off as pretty lovable character who meant well and did have feelings for Sullivan. How did you feel about the ending that Wilkinson got on the show?Yeah! Its really interesting too, because, if anything, Im [as Wilkinson] abusing my power. Im on the officer side, so I have much more power than he [Sullivan] does. But Im also more vulnerable than him, so its this kind of weird dynamic. Because you dont know if Sullivan obviously, I think he has real feelings but also, he kind of has to listen to me? Sachin BhattGrant Legan (@grantlegan)Wow, thats a really good point. Sullivan and Wilkinsons relationship played like such a love story that I guess I hadnt really thought of it that way. But you are correct: The power dynamics between them were not evened out.The show does go more toward the love story route, but that is the truth of that relationship. And that could be explored if theres a second season.Are there any specific things missing that would like to see being explored in a (still theoretical) second season?After watching it, I genuinely want to know more about their relationship. More specificity of how they met, and the aftermath of getting discharged. As of now, we got to see a very sweet side to Wilkinson. Id like to see the other colors he possesses.The show was originally 10 episodes, I think? And then it went down to eight, so my characters involvement changed. I do think theres room whether its flashbacks or in present day to see more of what happened leading up to when Im discharged. Im very curious to see what their relationship would be, if any. Sachin BhattGrant Legan (@grantlegan)I wanted to ask about your background and whether it informed your approach to play this character. Max went into this show as a actor from the United Kingdom. So he was, understandably, not super familiar with the U.S. military branches and their subdivisions. Did you have any family members who were involved in the U.S. Marine Corps or another branch of the military? And based on where you were born, did you have any general connection to that world?Oh, no. My familys from India, and I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. However, I did have a consultant, Leon Ingleright, who was discharged from the Marines for this reason. He was the person I spoke to a lot about this role.The story of The Pink Marine memoir ends in 1979. The show, Boots, kicks off in 1990. Both timelines are before Dont Ask, Dont Tell, but it feels even wilder to see Wilkinson being arrested for being gay right before this piece of legislation was introduced. Your character on Boots feels like an important reminder of how those protections, even the smaller and sillier ones, actually do help a lot during tough times for our community. How do you interpret that period of time?I was very young, but yeah, its just tragic. We can understand that they had to do what they did, because those were the rules at the time. But its super sad, too. Sachin BhattGrant Legan (@grantlegan)Wilkinson was, by all means, a recurring role that wasnt officially introduced on Boots for quite a while. Nonetheless, it almost felt like you had been there from the beginning. Were you fully cognizant of the importance of Wilkinsons story to the rest of the show? I just think that Wilkinson didnt really come off a side character at all.Im happy you said that. I think they talk of my character a bit, so that helps a lot with the scope of it. But this was shot very quickly in two or three days so it felt really in-and-out gig as well. Its really nice to hear that it feels like a bigger character.What was your favorite part about filming Boots? Were you able to bond with other actors and/or crew members attached to the series?One of the cool parts was having the creator, Greg Cope White, reach out to me and send me an email. Andy Parker, the showrunner, as well as Jennifer Cecil, all of them wrote me emails.Coming on board, I felt super welcomed and accepted and supported. And then meeting Max, too. Everyone was super passionate about this story. Sachin Bhatt as Major Wilkinson and Max Parker as Sgt. Sullivan on Boots.NetflixWe need to talk about those matching tattoos. [Bhatt starts laughing before the question is asked.] Such a U-Haul gay to do! Have you ever gotten any matching tattoos?No, I would never do that. [Laughs.] But the funny thing was, they originally wanted me to shave my chest, because body hair wasnt really a thing, maybe, in the 90s. And I really advocated to keep my body hair As I always do.Oh, good for you! And the audience appreciates it, too. How was that even a discussion?Ultimately, what helped was I know Greg [The Pink Marine author] was on board, and Kyle [Patrick Alvarez], the director of that episode, was really on board, too. So I had the support of people like, Dont shave. But, before that, there was kind of a back and forth up until the shoot. Sachin Bhatt as Major Wilkinson with semper fidelis tattoo on Boots.NetflixI can see how the gay aesthetic at the time was more Calvin Klein-esque. But, with that in mind, how were you film the scene where Wilkinsons tattoo is shown up close? It really looked like it was on your skin, under the body hair.So the makeup artists were amazing. The process was shaving the patch off, putting the tattoo on, and then laying hair back over.Youre joking?The makeup artists did a beautiful job. Max Parker as Sgt. Sullivan and Sachin Bhatt as Captain Wilkinson together in bed on Boots.NetflixWhat do you hope people learn, or reflect on, after seeing Boots?I feel very privileged to represent Indians in the Marines, because there are Indians in the Marines. To get cast in this role, set in the 90s, was a big win for me. I was really happy they went with diversity for the role. I also hope they understand gay relationships the connection that two men can have, but really of any gender.Were still dealing with that reality in mainstream media. With a few exceptions, we rarely see queer, non-white characters in projects that center the armed forces. A notable, recent exception was Jeremy Pope in The Inspection. But youre right: Its not a very common practice when casting for these shows. What was your audition process like? Was it specified that this role, in particular, called for a non-white actor?I dont think there was any ethnicity written for the character. I had auditioned, and I felt really strongly about it, so my agents checked in with casting and they were like, Well send some producers. And then when the callback happened, and Im like, All right, its probably some white guys, some Black guys, and me. And thats pretty much what it was. I knew it could easily not go my way, but I was surprised with it. Sachin BhattMatt Kallish (@matt_kallish)Opportunities for non-white actors in the LGBTQ+ community are more limited than ever. Well, not ever, but it feels significant that this is happening again after a period of time where so many shows would include queer people of all different backgrounds. How are you navigating this moment in the film and TV industries? Whats been your experience, obviously, outside of Boots?This year has definitely been less than previous years. Its a hard question, because in some aspects, I do get opportunities But I may not have a chance at all for them, and thats the truth. I do get the opportunities, but what theyre really going to go for is something else.Do you have any film and/or TV projects coming up soon that youd like to talk about? Or even more generally: Which creative endeavors are you looking forward to beyond Boots?Im not supposed to talk about it, even though Yeah, Im not supposed to say; its a big deal. But then I have a couple of indie films that I worked on, which Im excited about.One of them is go-LOVE-go. (Written by and starring John Griffin, alongside actors like Cheyenne Jackson, Katie Lowes, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Mayim Bialik, and Colin McCalla, among others.) The other one is called Daddy Issues, which I dont think is on IMDb yet. And then, Ive just finished my first feature and were shopping around. Im really excited about that.Boots is now streaming on Netflix.