Pride Month Celebration: Bollywood actors who  played gay characters on screen

Over the past few years, Indian cinema and OTT platforms have taken progressive steps towards portraying the LGBTQ+ community with more authenticity and empathy. However, there is still a long way to go. Despite this, many Indian actors from different generations and industries have broken stereotypes and challenged social norms by playing gay characters. Let's take a look at the actors who have made a mark in this direction:

Akshay Oberoi - Inside Edge Season 3

Inside Edge Season 3 Akshay Oberoi's character comes out as gay, which adds many layers to his personality and the story. Playing a closeted athlete in a macho environment, Akshay portrayed identity and internal struggle with grace and depth. His performance brought emotional depth to the show.

Rajkummar Rao –--Badhaai Do

Rajkummar Rao won the hearts of the audience with his brilliant and serious performance as a gay police officer in Badhaai Do. The film depicts the concept of lavender marriage. Marriage between a gay man and a lesbian woman to escape the pressures of society. Rajkummar Rao’s honest performance was highly appreciated.

Gulshan Devaiah – Badhaai Do

Gulshan Devaiah played a small but effective role of the potential lover of Rajkummar Rao’s character in Badhaai Do. His spontaneity and honesty left a deep impact on the audience.

Ayushmann Khurrana – Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Ayushmann Khurrana played a fearless gay youth in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan who unabashedly presents his relationship to the society. His performance made the audience think.

Lisa Mishra – The Royals

Singer-turned-actress Lisa Mishra played a lesbian character in the world of high society in The Royals. This shows that there is now a space for such characters on Indian OTT as well.

Sonam Kapoor – Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Sonam Kapoor played a lesbian woman in this film who musters up the courage to tell her family her truth. Her performance was emotional and simple which helped normalize the lesbian identity through a family story.

Vaani Kapoor – Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

Vaani Kapoor played a transgender woman which was portrayed with great seriousness. The film also sparked a discussion on the importance of transgender representation.

Sharmila Tagore – Gulmohar

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore played an older lesbian character in Gulmohar. She embraced the truth of her character with great dignity and confidence.

Madhuri Dixit – Maja Ma

Madhuri Dixit played a woman who accepts her truth to her family in Maja Ma. Her character showed the audience that the search for love and identity does not end with age.

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