While portraying gay characters or even talking about same-sex love is treated like a hot topic, these Bollywood stars have often gone out of their way to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights
Sonam Kapoor & Ayushmann Khurrana
While the theme of same-sex relationships is still treated with hush-hush tones in various corners of Indian Cinema, it is slowly but steadily gaining momentum in terms of open conversations, being portrayed on the screen, and celebrities rejecting the 'taboo' surrounding the topic. While we still have a long way to go before this topic is widely accepted, these celebrities have spoken out in interviews and on social media, and some have even produced and starred in gay-themed films.
1) Sonam Kapoor
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Homosexuality is not a ‘tendency’ it’s something you are born as and is absolutely NORMAL. To tell someone you can change is irresponsible.
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) November 14, 2017
Sonam Kapoor has always been a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. For the past decade, be it raising awareness on social media or supporting queer events like the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival or taking to her social media platform to raise more awareness among the uneducated. Sonam Kapoor has been at the forefront. She also starred as a closeted lesbian, Sweety, in the 2019 hit Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.
2) Ayushmann Khurrana
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Ayushmann Khurrana took on the role of a gay man in Bollywood's first gay romcom Shubh Mangal Saavdhan to make an important film in the 'commercial mainstream space'. He believed that films would normalise same-sex relationships on the big screen and would help the masses realise the importance of giving equal rights to the queer.
3) Nandita Das
Nandita Das has been a long-time ally to the community, Das played the first lesbian role in 1998's 'Fire'. Since then, she has always actively spoken out for the LGBTQIA+ community during various panel discussions and queer events to raise more awareness in society
4) Celine Jaitly
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Celina Jaitly has long been a supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. The actress has always done outstanding work for the community. She has worked for over 2 decades with the Indian Trans community, despite facing many threats. In an interview with The Times of India last year, she said, “The reality is that LGBTQIA+ rights, which are universally recognised and agreed upon, are routinely being denied to people just because they happen to be – or are assumed to be – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex. That is something we have a duty to acknowledge and address in a concerted way”.
5) Manoj Bajpayee
Manoj Bajpaye revolutionalised the content space with his performance in 'Aligarh,' in which he played the role of a wronged gay professor. The actor was adamant about saying that he agreed to play the character because he believed there was a gap in the representation of LGBTQIA+ issues in Bollywood. Questioning section 377, the talented actor had asked the Indian Government for better treatment towards the LGBTQIA+ community
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