Here are some Bollywood movies to watch during Pride Month

Check out these Indian films that beautifully depict LGBTQ+ stories.

1. My brother Nikhil

My Brother Nikhil is a drama directed by O’Neill, one of the few openly gay directors in Bollywood. Released in 2005, the film garnered attention for the way it portrayed a gay male character. The film follows AIDS patient Nikhil Kapoor and his journey to fight the disease without shame or pity. The film stars Sanjay Suri, Purab Kohli, Juhi Chawla, Lilet Dubey and Victor Banerjee.

2. Aligarh

Directed by Hansal Mehta, the film tells the story of a professor at the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University who faces social ostracism after his affair with a rickshaw driver is exposed. The film features heart-wrenching performances from actors Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkumar Rao. It will forever remain a landmark film on the subject and is sure to give you goosebumps this Pride month.

3. What happened?

Directed by Shelley Chopra Dhar, the film is one of the few mainstream films to openly depict a sapphic (lesbian) romance. The film revolves around Sweety, a carefree girl from Punjab who rejects all the suitors selected by her father and harbors a closely guarded secret. The film’s star cast includes Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Akshay Oberoi in pivotal roles.

4. Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Hitesh Kewalya’s film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is one of the few films that has brought same-sex relationships into the mainstream and into the public eye. The film follows the journey of a couple who face the social hurdles of their past and their ultra-Orthodox family and strive to gain acceptance from them and the society at large. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Maanvi Gagroo and Gajraj Rao, the film ensures to get its message across while entertaining the audience.

5. Badai Do

Directed by Harshvardhan Kulkarni, Badhaai Do is a comedy-drama starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar. The film tells the story of two gay couples who compromise and decide to enter into a lavender marriage to please the conservative sections of society and avoid detection.

6. Margarita with a straw

The film Margarita with a Straw focuses on two key issues, one is homosexuality and the other is disability. The film showcases the discrimination faced by both groups of people in society while following the protagonist Laila’s journey to find love and new horizons for the future. The film stars Kalki Koechlin, Sayani Gupta, Kuljeet Singh and Revathi in key roles.

7. Kapoor and Sons

Directed by Shakun Batra, Kapoor and Sons is a romantic drama that depicts the complex issues a family faces due to differences in opinion. The film explores the theme of homosexuality through the character of Rahul Kapoor, who finds it difficult to reveal his sexual orientation, adding depth to the tensions in the family and ultimately bringing them together. The film’s star cast includes Rishi Kapoor, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra, Ratna Pathak Shah and Rajat Kapoor in lead roles.

These films will truly captivate your thoughts and imagination and give you a new perspective to look at this sensitive issue. Pride month is a time to appreciate the LGBTQIA+ community, its stories, struggles, and triumphs. Hindi cinema has always played a pivotal role in bringing these stories to the forefront, offering powerful, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking insights into the lives of these people. From the experience and struggles of coming out and dealing with rejection from society to the joys of self-discovery and love, watching these films this Pride month is a way to celebrate the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and foster empathy and understanding among all audiences, as well as unwavering support for the community. The above films are sure to grab your attention and completely captivate you with their compelling storylines, versatile acting, and unique themes.