"I’m a huge advocate for LGBTQI."
LGBT characters are the soul of any film exploring alternative sexualities.
They champion diversity, add colour, and pioneer equality in such stories.
Such characters possess the unique ability to educate as well as entertain.
Each film is a step forward – not only for cinema but for the progression of society.
We invite you on a thrilling journey as we take you through a list of great films with such characters.
DESIblitz is proud to present 10 Bollywood films that feature LGBT characters.
Fire (1996)
Director: Deepa Mehta
Stars: Nandita Das, Shabana Azmi
Deepa Mehta’s Fire was among the first Indian films to explore LGBT characters.
It focuses on two women named Sita (Nandita Das) and Radha (Shabana Azmi).
The characters are in unhappy marriages with Jatin (Jaaved Jaffrey) and Ashok (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) respectively.
This drives the wives to seek passion in each other and the two are overjoyed at this turn of events.
Fire generated controversy for its depiction of a lesbian relationship, and was initially banned in India and Pakistan.
However, the film also began discussion and awareness about lesbian and gay rights.
A group known as Campaign for Lesbian Rights (CALERI) was formed in the wake of the film.
Fire deserves applause for being ahead of its time and for starting movements in this manner.
I Am (2010)
Director: Onir
Stars: Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Rahul Bose, Sanjay Suri, Arjun Mathur
I Am is an anthology movie that comprises four short films.
The ones that centre around LGBT characters are Abhimanyu and Omar.
Abhimanyu involves a character by the same name (Sanjay Suri) who is a successful director.
He must contend with the sexual abuse he faced as a child, as well as accept his newly found sexual identity.
Meanwhile, in Omar, Jay Gowda (Rahul Bose) ignites passion with the struggling actor Omar (Arjun Mathur).
I Am is a poetic tale of gay rights and same-sex relationships.
A viewer on IMDB praises the film, stating: “I Am was a hard-hitting story filled with compassion, sympathy and trauma.
“It checks the reality that is prevalent in the society we live in today.”
For viewers who wish to see a genuine story of love, I Am is a top choice.
Memories In March (2010)
Director: Sanjoy Nag
Stars: Deepti Naval, Rituparno Ghosh, Raima Sen
Memories In March narrates the saga of Ornob Mitra (Rituparno Ghosh).
A bereaved mother named Arati Mishra (Deepti Naval) struggles to come to terms with her son’s sexuality.
Her son falls in love with Ornob, but eventually, she does come around.
Rituparno, who also wrote the film, is known for channelling sexual progression through his work.
Delving into his thoughts on same-sex relationships, he said:
“There is much more to such relationships.
“Same-sex relationships, too, are extremely soulful, emotional and have the same pathos that any heterosexual relationship has.”
These words ring true in Memories In March, which is a soulful narration of love and longing.
Margarita With A Straw (2014)
Director: Shonali Bose
Stars: Kalki Koechlin, Revathi, Sayani Gupta, William Moseley
Shonali Bose’s breathtaking film showcases the saga of Laila Kapoor (Kalki Koechlin).
Laila is a teenager with cerebral palsy from Mumbai.
While studying in Manhattan, Laila finds herself attracted to Jared (William Moseley).
She also falls in love with Khanum (Sayani Gupta).
Margarita With A Straw is an ode to accepting oneself as Laila comes to terms with her bisexuality.
Reviewing the film for The Guardian, Andrew Pulver highlights the emotion:
“Bose and Koechlin never lose sight of the emotional core of the piece and you can feel its insistent pull on the tear ducts at key points.”
As it tackles sexuality as well as disability, Margarita With A Straw is brave and original.
Aligarh (2015)
Director: Hansal Mehta
Stars: Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Ashish Vidyarthi
Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh was ahead of its time as it showed an Indian professor in a same-sex relationship.
The movie tells the true story of Prof. Ramchandra Siras (Manoj Bajpayee).
Aligarh begins with Ramchandra being filmed while he is having sex with a male rickshaw-puller.
Consequently, he is forced to abandon his career.
He finds an ally in a journalist named Deepu Sebastian (Rajkummar Rao), who is sympathetic to him.
Rajkummar aids Ramchandra in seeking justice and ultimately, his suspension is revoked.
Rahul Desai highlights the dignity of the film:
“Aligarh is a dignified account of two men who became necessary to each other.”
The film sets new standards as it intertwines socialism, biography, justice, and homosexuality.
Kapoor & Sons (2016)
Director: Shakun Batra
Stars: Rishi Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ratna Pathak Shah
Shakun Batra’s evergreen classic Kapoor & Sons details the lives of two writers who are estranged brothers.
They are the successful Rahul Kapoor (Fawad Khan) and the struggling Arjun Kapoor (Sidharth Malhotra).
Both the brothers discover attraction in Tia Malik (Alia Bhatt).
However, Rahul later comes out as gay to his brother, underscoring the importance of openness and acceptance.
Anupama Chopra from Film Companion speaks positively about the climax of the film, where the entire family unites:
“Rahul’s secret made me cry. Fawad is outstanding as the son burdened by his perfection.
“The film’s biggest triumph is that by the end, I felt like I was a member of this family.
“I wanted a group hug and therapy.”
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019)
Director: Shelly Chopra Dhar
Stars: Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Rajkummar Rao, Juhi Chawla, Regina Cassandra
With a story inspired by the novel A Damsel in Distress (1919), this film chronicles the tale of the closeted lesbian Sweety Chaudhary (Sonam Kapoor Ahuja).
Under pressure to marry a man, Sweety finds a potential partner in Sahil Mirza (Rajkummar Rao).
However, she is actually in love with Kuhu (Regina Cassandra).
In an interview, leading lady Sonam asserts her advocacy for the LGBT community:
“I’m a huge advocate for LGBTQI. “For me, it is one of the most important things that I fight for.
“And I hope for when there is a country and a world without labels.
“I’m very happy and proud that India has taken a step forward and people can live and love the way they want to love and that’s very important to me.
“And I think it should be very important to everybody in this world.”
Sonam’s progressive thoughts were evident in her exemplary performance in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.
The film contains one of the most relatable LGBT characters.
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020)
Director: Hitesh Kewalya
Stars: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar
In a charming tale of gay love, the audience is introduced to Kartik Singh (Ayushmann Khurrana).
Kartik lives with his boyfriend Aman Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar).
All seems to be going well until Aman’s family try to marry him to a girl named Kusum Nigam (Pankhuri Awasthy Rode).
Kartik tries to convince Aman to come out and the film then follows a journey to obtain acceptance.
In the climax of the film, the Supreme Court decriminalises homosexuality.
The final scene depicts that Aman and Kartik will run until they find happiness.
Just like the landmark judgement it shows, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is a landmark film.
It celebrates same-sex love like never before in Bollywood.
Devesh Sharma, from Filmfare, enthuses:
“Watch the film for its hilarious comedy, slick all-around performances and ultimately for its powerful message of love and acceptance.”
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021)
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Stars: Ayushmann Khurrana, Vaani Kapoor
Continuing with the fabulous artist that is Ayushmann Khurrana, we come to Abhishek Kapoor’s thought-provoking Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui.
Ayushmann inhabits the world of the gym owner Manvinder ‘Manu’ Munjal.
He falls in love with Maanvi Brar (Vaani Kapoor).
They later begin a sexual relationship, despite Maanvi wanting to tell Manu something.
Manu is shocked when he discovers that Maanvi is transgender, and feels ashamed that he “has had sex with a man”.
However, love prevails and Manu stands up for Maanvi against his friends and family.
He also educates himself about transgenderism. Her presence also motivates Manu to win a weights tournament.
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is a poignant and sensitive story about the triumph of love and equality.
It is a film not to be missed.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Stars: Alia Bhatt, Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Ajay Devgn, Jim Sarbh
In Gangubai Kathiawadi, Alia Bhatt shines as the titular sex worker.
However, a highlight of the film is Raziabai (Vijay Raaz) – Gangubai’s transgender opponent in the Kamathipura elections.
Raziabai is terrifying, and haunting, and she has an incredible aura. Vijay infuses her with intrigue and depth.
Alia addresses Vijay’s casting as Raziabai, as it did attract some criticism:
“While I do understand where they’re coming from, I feel like it’s up to the director and their vision.
“It’s not there to offend anyone; maybe the director found it interesting to have an actor like Vijay Raaz, who identifies as male play a trans character.
“The audience has never seen him that way, you see the actor and the ability to transform within that person.
“I think that’s a better perspective, but I do understand where people are coming from.”
Vijay certainly brought Raziabai to life, making her a stand-out in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
LGBT characters provide unique spins and stories in films.
They strive for acceptance and are unafraid to be themselves.
These films have certainly set new benchmarks and have achieved the praise of many.
They are memorable and deserve a place in the annals of Indian cinema.
So, in June 2024, as we take pride in who we are, prepare to embrace the strength and utter resilience of LGBT characters.
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