10 Bollywood stars who brought queer stories to life

Ayushmann Khurrana – Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Playing Kartik, a confident gay man in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, he challenged conservative views and sparked important queer conversations in India

Rajkummar Rao – Badhaai Do

Rajkummar Rao delivered a powerful, nuanced performance as a gay cop in Badhaai Do, highlighting the challenges of a lavender marriage with sincerity and depth

Gulshan Devaiah – Badhaai Do

In Badhaai Do, Devaiah played a brief but memorable love interest to Rajkummar Rao’s character, highlighting the need for normalized queer roles in Bollywood

Sharmila Tagore – Gulmohar

Sharmila Tagore shined in Gulmohar as a queer matriarch, proving queer stories deserve dignity, depth, and visibility beyond youth or rebellion

Madhuri Dixit – Maja Ma

Madhuri Dixit in Maja Ma stunned audiences as a middle-aged woman coming out, spotlighting the quiet strength in reclaiming identity later in life

Vaani Kapoor – Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Vaani Kapoor in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui portrayed a transgender woman with grace and sincerity, sparking conversations on love, identity and the person within

Anshuman Jha – Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele

Anshuman Jha in Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele portrays a gay man on a heartfelt road trip, exploring queer friendship, identity, and the warmth of chosen family

Sonam Kapoor – Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Sonam Kapoor in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga played a lesbian woman coming out to her family, offering a warm, heartfelt portrayal of queer acceptance

Akshay Oberoi – Inside Edge Season 3

Akshay Oberoi’s role as a closeted gay athlete in Inside Edge 3 brought quiet intensity, exploring internal struggles tied to masculinity of athelticism

Lisa Mishra – The Royals

Lisa Mishra plays a queer character in The Royals, portraying the complexities of identity and legacy in elite circles, adding depth to evolving queer roles