Bollywood actors who played homosexual characters on screen

Fawad Khan

For most of the actors, playing a homosexual means taking a big risk! However, Fawad Khan chose to take it up and he ended up doing full justice to the role in 'Kapoor and Sons'.

Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham

Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham's characters in 'Dostana' played gay partners just to get the apartment, and the audiences loved the movie as well as the chemistry of both.

Saqib Saleem and Randeep Hooda

Actor Saqib Saleem played a gay character in Karan Johar’s 'Bombay Talkies', alongside Randeep Hooda.

Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan

Few will forget Kanta Ben’s shocked expression on seeing Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in bed together in 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'!

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor played a character in 'Student of the Year' who was seen lusting after Ronit Roy’s character.

Purab Kohli

Purab, who had played a gay character in 'My Brother Nikhil', explains why playing such characters is not without risk. "Post the film, I got many roles on the same lines, so there is a fear of getting typecast. That my character was gay was incidental for me. The film was about relationships and emotions, so big deal if my partner was a man," he said.

Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das

Shabana Azmi who kissed co-star Nandita Das in 'Fire', says, "Gay characters are being featured at all is a sign of progress, but it’s when you can laugh at someone without offending them that’s real maturity. We are still to reach that stage. But at least they’ve been spared malice in our films."

Rahul Bose

Rahul Bose was the first one to play a full-fledged gay character in the 1996 film 'Bomgay'.