In recent years, Indian cinema and OTT platforms have begun taking progressive strides towards portraying the LGBTQ+ community with more authenticity and empathy. While there's still a long road ahead, several Indian actors, across generations and industries, have embraced queer roles, breaking stereotypes and challenging societal norms. From veterans to new-age stars, here’s a look at actors who’ve made a mark by portraying queer characters on screen.
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Emotional depth
Akshay Oberoi – Inside Edge Season 3
In Inside Edge Season 3, Akshay Oberoi’s character comes out as gay, a revelation that adds layers to his personality and narrative arc. Portraying a closeted athlete in a hyper-masculine environment, Akshay Oberoi tackled the complexities of identity and internal conflict with a quiet, dignified intensity. His performance added emotional depth to a show primarily known for its high-octane drama.
Lavender love
Rajkummar Rao — Badhaai Do
Rajkummar Rao stunned audiences with his restrained and powerful performance as a gay police officer in Badhaai Do. The film explored the idea of a lavender marriage, a heterosexual marriage between a gay man and a lesbian woman to appease societal pressures. Rao's commitment to portraying queer vulnerability without caricature was widely praised, marking a major milestone in mainstream Bollywood storytelling.
Sincere charm
Gulshan Devaiah – Badhaai Do
Also seen in Badhaai Do, Gulshan Devaiah plays a potential love interest for Rajkummar Rao’s character. In a brief yet impactful role, Devaiah's charm and sincerity left a lasting impression, reinforcing the importance of normalized queer representation in Bollywood.
Confidently unapologetic
– Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Ayushmann Khurrana took a bold leap with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, a romantic comedy centered on a gay couple. Playing Kartik, a confident, unapologetic gay man who challenges conservative attitudes, Khurrana's portrayal was both entertaining and pioneering. He used his stardom to amplify queer narratives, sparking important conversations among Indian audiences.
High stakes
– The Royals
Singer-turned-actress Lisa Mishra recently worked in the series The Royals, where she plays a queer character navigating the world of high society and royal legacy. Her inclusion in this list speaks volumes about the growing diversity of queer stories being explored in Indian OTT content.
Heartfelt performance
– Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
Sonam Kapoor starred in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to feature a lesbian protagonist. Portraying a young woman struggling to come out to her conservative family, Sonam delivered a gentle, heartfelt performance that helped normalize queer identity within a family-oriented narrative.
Dignified outing
– Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui
In Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Vaani Kapoor played a transgender woman with dignity and sensitivity. The film tackled themes of love, acceptance, and gender identity, and Vaani’s portrayal was widely commended for its sincerity, even as the film invited dialogue around the importance of trans representation by trans actors.
Signature poise
Sharmila Tagore – Gulmohar
Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore made a graceful comeback in Gulmohar, portraying a queer matriarch who finally lives her truth in her twilight years. Her quiet assertion of her identity, delivered with her signature poise, made a strong statement about queer stories not being limited to youth or rebellion.
Nuanced performance
t – Maja Ma
Madhuri Dixit surprised many with her role in Maja Ma, where she plays a middle-aged woman who comes out as a lesbian to her family. In a society that often sidelines the sexuality of older women, Dixit’s portrayal brought nuance to the character's internal journey, balancing social expectations with self-acceptance.
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