Despite the Supreme Court's decriminalization of Section 377, homosexuality remains taboo in Indian society. Several filmmakers have attempted to explore same-sex storylines in film over the years. While these films were initially met with great criticism, things began to change with time. While many would argue that there is still a long way to go before Indian society welcomes LGBTQ people openly, there is no doubting that there has been a constant progression in how society views this group. In reality, cinema has transformed how it portrays the LGBTQ community as well. Here are a few of the Bollywood movies that are based on LGBTQ relationships. 1. Badhaai Do [caption id="attachment_18804" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] Badhaai Do, starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, will be released in theatres on February 11. The film tells the narrative of Shardul, a gay man, and Sumi, a lesbian woman. Sumi does not want to marry because she is not interested in boys. Shardul takes advantage of this and marries her in order to keep the family's heart. The tale revolves around how both of their families would go forward from this complicated relationship. 2. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui [caption id="attachment_18454" align="alignnone" width="800"] Still From Trailer[/caption] Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui had Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor in the key roles. The film depicts Ayushmann falling in love with the transwoman Vaani, but once he learns the truth, the earth crumbles beneath his feet. The plot revolves around Ayushmann and his family's reaction to learning the truth. 3. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan [caption id="attachment_13909" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, directed by Hitesh Kewalya, featured an LGBT love tale. The film is about two boys who persuade their families to accept gay marriage. 4. Bomgay [caption id="attachment_18800" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] 'Bomgay,' directed by Riyad Vinci Wadia and Jangu Sethna, was released in 1996 and is the first Indian gay short film. The film is based on R. Raj Rao's gay poetry. The poem is a collection of six tales that reflect the twisted and clandestine character of LGBT identity in metropolitan India. The contentious gay sex scene in a library is the film's most famous scene. 5. Fire [caption id="attachment_18796" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] The picture Fire, which was released in 1996, was the subject of numerous disputes. The film starred Namita Das and Shabana Azmi and told the story of two ladies who fell in love. People objected to the film's promotion of homosexual relationships following its premiere, but 20 years later, audiences and filmmakers alike have grown to appreciate this theme. Let's take a look at how the popularity of such films has grown. 6. I Am [caption id="attachment_18799" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] Onir's film 'I Am' was released in India in 2010. 'Omar,' 'Afia,' 'Abhimanyu,' and 'Megha' are the four short films that make up the collection. Each film has a common subject of fear, and they are all based on true events. 'Omar,' one of the four films, demonstrated a misapplication of LGBT rights. The film tells the narrative of a police officer who threatens two young boys, Omar and Jai, under Section 377 of the Criminal Code (which was decriminalized in 2019 by SC). Onir collected real-life stories and research data online, which he used to create the film. While the picture received positive reviews from critics, it received a lukewarm response from the general public. 7. Bombay Talkies [caption id="attachment_18801" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] 'Bombay Talkies,' a 2013 anthology film, featured four directors directing four short films. The film starring Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda, and Saqib Saleem, directed by Karan Johar, was possibly the most daring of its time. A narrative about a busy couple in Bombay, one of whom is a closet gay, the film explored how metropolitan relationships have evolved through time and ended with its starring males having a passionate kiss. The film, directed by Karan Johar, was praised for its innovative approach to modern relationships. 8. Aligarh [caption id="attachment_18803" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] Hansal Mehta's film 'Aligarh' (2016) eloquently depicted the hard reality of our culture, in which a person is not permitted to choose his own partner. Based on the true story, 'Aligarh' told a story of a professor named Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras who was the subject of a sting operation to ascertain his sexual orientation. Silas, who has been shunned by his college and society, is eventually persuaded by a journalist to sue his university. The film received plaudits for its accurate portrayal, and the main hero Manoj Bajpaiee gave a riveting and sympathetic performance, but it failed to make an impact at the box office. 9. Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga [caption id="attachment_13524" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] Sweety Choudhary, played by Sonam Kapoor, is the protagonist of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, which was released in 2019. She loves a girl, but she accepts to marry a boy because she is afraid of society and her father. Sweety eventually decides to go to war with her family for her love. 10. My Brother Nikhil [caption id="attachment_18794" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] 'My Brother Nikhil' (2205), directed by Onir, was a sensitive, emotional drama about the gay society that starred Juhi Chawla, Purab Kohli, and Sanjay Suri in the lead part. The film depicted Nigel's, Nikhil's, and Juhi Chawala's sister's relationship, as well as how the three cope when Nikhil is diagnosed with HIV. The film concentrated on the taboos surrounding AIDS and was one of the first films to revolve around a same-sex story of love. The picture was well-received by critics. 11. Kapoor & Sons [caption id="attachment_18797" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] The film Kapoor & Sons, starring Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, and Fawad Khan, tells the narrative of a befuddled family. The film depicts the relationship between two brothers, Arjun and Rahul, deteriorating due to a girl. When it is revealed that Rahul Kapoor is gay, the conflict comes to an end. 12. Margarita With A Straw [caption id="attachment_18795" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] While Shonali Bose's film 'Margarita With A Straw' (2014) was about a feisty girl who lives life to the fullest despite being born with a disability, the film also focused on a same-sex story of love, providing Indian viewers with a taste of how love and sex are for people born with a disability. 13. Dostana [caption id="attachment_18798" align="alignnone" width="800"] via[/caption] Tarn Mansukhani's film 'Dostana,' released in 2008, was a tongue-in-cheek look at homosexuality. The plot of the film revolved around two men who pretended to be gay in order to share an apartment with a girl and eventually fell in love with her. For the way the characters were depicted in the film, many people accused filmmaker Karan Johar of demeaning the LGBTQ community. These are the Bollywood movies that are based on LGBTQ relationships. Which is your favorite movie? Let us know in the comments below. 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