Mainstream Bollywood films barely include gay, trans, and lesbian characters. Often, LGBTQ+ inclusion in Bollywood includes using gay or situational confusion or effeminate characters for comic relief. It resorts to stereotypes and poor representation. Remember “Dostana or Kal ho na ho”? However, LGBTQIA+ rights can come out through various forms of art, performance, and advocacy; Bollywood has largely ignored or marginalised queer characters and their stories. However, with the release of movies like “Badhaai Do,” Bollywood showed its potential to create progressive films with LGBTQ representation, signalling a step in the right direction.
Written by Suman Adhikary and Akshat Ghildial and directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, “Badhaai Do” shows Indian society’s stigma against queerness. The story follows Shardul (Rajkummar Rao), a gay policeman, and Sumi (Bhumi Pednekar), a lesbian teacher. Suman is the one who chooses to enter what is known as a “lavender marriage.” Lavender marriage, though not widely known, is a hidden reality in India. Moreover, it is a means to escape cultural prejudice passed down through generations.
The reality of lavender marriages
A “lavender marriage” is when two non-heterosexual individuals or at least one non-heterosexual individual enters into a marriage of convenience. It allows them to maintain a facade of heterosexuality in society and gives them the freedom to pursue their romantic and sexual interests without raising suspicions. However, it’s typically not what the LGBTQ community desires. Lavender marriages are often a last resort to avoid the stigma surrounding queerness and escape social and cultural pressures.
When “Badhaai Do” was released, although the movie received praise for its portrayal of homosexuality, some critics raised concerns about the depiction of lavender marriage. The argument is that it could have adverse effects on the LGBTQ+ community. It potentially suggests that a lavender marriage is preferable to openly living as a queer person. However, it’s essential to recognise that the rise of lavender marriages in India is not solely due to a random movie. In reality, it stems from societal homophobia and stigma against queerness.
In “Badhaai Do,” the portrayal of lavender marriages shows that the queer community often chooses this path to avoid the challenges of living openly, facing societal judgement, and the pressure to fit into society’s mould. When Shardul and Suman decided to marry, their relatives were delighted because they were of similar age and belonged to the same caste. It indicates that in India, families are more focused on matching status and caste rather than considering their child’s sexual orientation. The film doesn’t promote lavender marriage as a solution or escape. Instead, it highlights the situations that push adults into such arrangements because they find it hard to come out to their families.
LGBTQ+ inclusion in Bollywood: Character representation in Badhaai Do
“Badhaai Do” portrays that being queer doesn’t mean someone is free from imperfections. It is evident in Sumi’s and Shardul’s characters, as the movie doesn’t glorify them, showing that being homosexual doesn’t automatically make you unidimensional. Why was this necessary? Because it challenges an overused stereotype where homosexual individuals are portrayed as one-dimensional characters who are always perfect or are out-and-out villains, unlike heterosexual people.
Shardul: Breaking stereotypes
In Badhaai Do, Shardul breaks stereotypes about gay men. Despite being a closeted gay man, he appears as a typical macho male lead with a good physique and a job as a police officer. This portrayal is refreshing because it challenges the stereotype that gay men are always effeminate or unmasculine. It shows that sexuality is not defined by a person’s dress choice, physique, or profession, providing a more diverse representation of LGBTQ characters.
Shardul still shows misogynistic views towards women and has non-traditional behaviour that leads to his toxic masculinity. It shows that men, whether homosexual or heterosexual, raised in a patriarchal society may still harbour misogynistic attitudes. Thus, they aren’t fundamentally different from heterosexual men. In the world of movies, gay characters are often portrayed as supportive sidekicks or best friends of women. However, “Badhaai Do” challenges this stereotype by showing that it’s not always the case.
Suman and her dating app story
Suman’s story also reveals the dangers of being a lesbian and using dating apps. Her match pretends to be a woman and then stalks her, threatening to expose her sexuality if she reports him. It sadly shows how society can easily exploit LGBTQ individuals by using the fear of social repercussions from coming out.
When Suman and Shardul come out to their families during the third act, the family members respond with disgust and make judgmental and hurtful comments. These scenes realistically captured the loneliness and constant fear experienced by queer individuals, not just in India but in almost every corner of the world.
Should queer actors play queer roles?
The main cast, writers, and director of the film are cisgender and straight. While this might not result in a perfect show of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Bollywood, straight actors playing LGBTQ+ characters is also a function of the box office collection. A character’s identity isn’t solely determined by the actor portraying them. However, it still raises the question of lead actors being open about their sexuality. In this Big world of Indian Cinema, apart from Karan Johar, no mainstream creator, actor, or actress has spoken about their sexuality. Some whispers and rumours do the rounds. However, we need to go a long way as an audience to accept LGBTQ actors as our heroes.
LGBTQ+ inclusion in Bollywood: The final thoughts
As times change and there is a proliferation of new thinking, films are becoming increasingly relatable and realistic. That’s why audiences warmly welcome movies like Badhaai Do. While lavender weddings are usually associated with modern generations and settings, when mainstream films with famous actors address the topic, the message reaches a broader audience.
Badhaai Do is a light-hearted, non-toxic, yet humorous romantic comedy. It follows the pattern of any typical small-town Bollywood rom-com with a differentiator. It strikes a chord due to its subject: it shows that in the colourful fabric of small-town India, queer people can live the life they want to live- with courage and conviction. Movies are dreams, and there is a happy ending. A movie like this does not exactly mirror real life. But it’s a start, and some of the characterisation, conflicts, and situations are relatable. We want more such movies. Mainstream media can be a game-changer in bringing in true inclusivity.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
