Disrupting hegemonic (hetero)masculinity: evolving portrayal of gay men in contemporary bollywood

Heterosexuality is long regarded as the central marker of masculinity, thus marginalizing gay men as ‘unmasculine’ and ‘effeminate’. Reflecting and shaping the social discourse, Bollywood has reinforced this marginalization and largely confined gay men to sidekick roles, thereby preserving the hegemony of heteromasculinity on-screen, and substantially influencing the public understanding of ways of ‘being a man’. However, with the evolving gender discourse in contemporary India, Bollywood’s portrayal of gay men is undergoing a significant transformation. Films like Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan (SMZS), mark a departure from stereotypical representations and present gay men in an ineffeminate manner, as the lead protagonists who challenge rigid societal structures. This article examines this pivotal shift through a qualitative textual analysis of the film, as these altered representations of gay men are potent enough to shift Indian society’s perception towards the ideal man and masculinity. Thus, the article explores how SMZS destabilizes the interconnection between masculinity and heterosexuality, disrupting the hegemony of heteromasculinity in India. The analysis reveals that, unloaded by effeminate stereotypes, this film deconstructs the sexual binary, critiques compulsory heterosexuality and the institution of marriage that maintain hegemonic heterosexual masculinity, projecting an alternative and inclusive model of masculinity to the Indian audience.