It was a landmark day on 6th September 2018 when the Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality which was immediately hailed by the minority LGBT community and it was equally celebrated by the Bollywood industry.
So let us take a look at some of the films which have portrayed the real, humane side LGBTQ community and not made characters to make fun or humiliate them in a film.
Margarita In A Straw – Kalki Koechlin’s portrayal of a character with cerebral palsy, who eventually figures out her sexuality was highly appreciated. She played a lesbian, who falls in love with Sayani Gupta’s character. The emotions displayed in the film, directed by Shonali Bose, were real and tangible.
Fire – This 1996 release starring Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi was way ahead of its time. Deepa Mehta wove an emotional story about two women, who find solace in each other, after being neglected by their husbands. The film faced a lot of criticism from radical groups when it released. Perhaps, it was ahead of its times.
Bombay Talkies – The short story directed by Karan Johar, in the anthology Bombay Talkies, is titled Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh. It stars Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda, and Saqib Saleem and depicted the complications that come by hiding one’s sexual preferences.
Kapoor & Sons – Probably the title of the first commercial film ever, to portray a gay character sensitively, should be given to this film directed by Shakun Batra. Fawad Khan’s intense character manifested a dignity, which Hindi cinema’s ‘mocked’ gay characters lacked. The movie has also presented the coming out of the closet for Fawad with the perfect amount of passion.
Padmaavat – Ranveer Singh essayed the character of tyrant Alauddin Khilji with utmost perfection in the film. However, in his personal life, the ruler was said to be bisexual and the film shows a full-fledged scene as well as a song that is dedicated to the relationship he shared with slave Malik Kafur. Jim Sarbh, as Kafur, beautifully showcased a helpless lover, ready to do anything for his master.