Gender and Sexuality in Indian Cinema

Margarita with a Straw (2014) is widely regarded as a groundbreaking film for its sensitive and nuanced portrayal of a young woman with cerebral palsy who also identifies as a lesbian.

Fire is known for its portrayal of a lesbian relationship between Radha and Sita, played by Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, respectively.

Bombay Talkies (2013) features a segment directed by Karan Johar, titled 'Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh,' which revolves around the life of a hijra named Rani, played by Rani Mukerji.

Professor Siras, played by Manoj Bajpayee, is a professor of Marathi literature at Aligarh Muslim University.

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) is a romantic comedy that revolves around the relationship between two men, played by Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar, and their struggle for acceptance from their families and society.

Priyanka Chopra plays the character of Meghna Mathur, a transgender woman who faces discrimination and prejudice in the fashion industry.

Bombay Talkies features a segment directed by Zoya Akhtar, titled 'Sheila Ki Jawaani,' which revolves around the life of a drag queen named Sheila, played by Rani Mukerji.

Nikhil Kapoor, played by Sanjay Suri, is the protagonist of My Brother Nikhil who is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and faces discrimination from society.

Aligarh is based on the real-life story of Professor Siras, a gay professor at Aligarh Muslim University who was suspended from his job after his relationship with a rickshaw puller was exposed.

Sonam Kapoor plays the character of Sweety Chaudhary, a young woman who falls in love with another woman, Kuhu Kapoor, played by Rajkummar Rao.

Laila, the protagonist of Margarita with a Straw, played by Kalki Koechlin, identifies as a bisexual woman.

Kangana Ranaut plays the character of Shonali Gujral, a lesbian model who faces discrimination and prejudice in the fashion industry.

Fire (1996) is often regarded as a groundbreaking film for its portrayal of a lesbian relationship between two women, Radha and Sita.

Juhi Chawla plays the character of Anjali Kapoor, Nikhil's sister who supports him through his diagnosis and treatment.

Bombay Talkies features a segment directed by Karan Johar, titled 'Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh,' which is based on the true story of a transgender woman named Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.