Sonam Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Celina Jaitly: 5 Bollywood celebs who champion LGBTQ rights

The Indian film industry is slowly but gradually embracing homosexuality on the big screen. Many actors have come out and openly supported the community and their rights. Actors like Sonam Kapoor, Celina Jaitly, Ayushmann Khurrana, and others have not only been vocal about their opinions but have also been part of films with significant representation of LGBTQ characters. As we celebrate Pride month, let's take a look at five Bollywood celebrities who went against the tide and led by example.

She was amongst the ones who were overjoyed when New York legalised gay marriages and also the one who expressed her anger and disappointment when the Supreme Court made homosexuality a crime in 2013. The actress, to date, remains a huge advocate of LGBTQ rights. According to her it is the most important thing that she fights for and hopes the world will be without such labels one day. She was also a part of a film titled, ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’ where she played a lesbian character who falls in love with a girl, played by Regina Cassandra.

Ayushmann Khurrana has been carving a niche for himself in Bollywood with his unconventional film choices. The actor, who proudly played the character of a gay man in ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’, has been quite supportive towards the community in real life too. He believes that if films normalise same-sex relationships on the big screen, it will help people realise the importance of gay rights.

Nandita Das is one of the finest actors we have in the industry. The actress played the role of a lesbian for the first time in the 1998 movie, ‘Fire’. She has been actively advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ community ever since. Nandita has also been part of several panel discussions and events where she has tried to create awareness about the community and its rights. The actress also spoke out against Section 377 in India that criminalised homosexuality in 2013. The decision was then overturned in 2018.

Celina Jaitly is one of the oldest and loyal supporters of the LGBTQ community. The actress has done some exemplary work for the community and had also worked for over two decades with the Indian trans community, despite intense threats and fears of ostracisation. In an interview with The Times of India last year, she'd said, “The reality is that LGBTQIA+ rights, which are universally recognised and agreed upon, are routinely being denied to people just because they happen to be – or are assumed to be – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex. That is something we have a duty to acknowledge and address in a concerted way”.

Manoj Bajpayee broke barriers with his performance in ‘Aligarh’, in which he had played the role of a wronged gay professor. The actor had reportedly stated that he agreed to play the character because he believed there was a lack of representation of LGBTQ+ issues in Bollywood. Targeting Section 377, the ace actor had asked the Indian Government for better treatment and sensitivity towards the LGBTQ+ community.