The Indian Hindi film industry, Bollywood, has undergone significant evolution over the years, especially in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Recently, there has been an ever-growing discussion around LGBTQ+ representation, with several low-profile actresses openly embracing their identities. The leading A-list top actress still keeps it private and does not openly admit it due to some fears of backlash from the conservative section of Indian society, which might also affect their movie career.

But there have been many prominent leading actresses not only in recent times but also in the past who were engaged in lesbian encounters but never openly admitted it publically. In this article, we’ll delve into the lives of some of those prominent lesbian actresses in Bollywood, both past and present.

List of Top-Rated Bollywood Actresses Who Are Rumored to be Lesbian

Here is our list of A-listed leading Bollywood actresses, who are widely speculated as lesbian due to their lifestyle and choices, this list may surprise you because some of these actresses have a long of list of affairs with men, making it very difficult to think about their divergent orientation.

1. Rekha

Rekha, one of Bollywood’s most iconic and enigmatic actresses, has captured the hearts of millions with her talent, beauty, and charisma. Her career spans over five decades and she remains a symbol of grace and elegance in Indian cinema. While Rekha’s professional achievements are well-documented, her personal life has always been shrouded in mystery and speculation, particularly regarding her sexuality.

Rekha has always maintained a certain mystique, rarely discussing her private affairs publicly. She has had a very famous affair with Amitabh Bachan and their on-screen chemistry was highly loved and cherished by Indian audiences.

After the end of her affair with Amitabh, she maintained high-profile relationships with other men in the Bollywood industry such as Jatindera and Raj Babbar. Rekha’s long list of affairs with men started with Navin Nischol with whom she debuted in Bollywood.

It is interesting to mention several years after parting ways with Navin Nischol, Rekha did a movie named Astha with Navin in 1997 and shocked her fans by doing the most intimating scenes on screen with Navin Nischol. She even had very passionate scenes with Om Puri in the movie that no one could think of raising any questions about her sexual orientation.

However, in the year 1999, Journalist Mohan Deep, wrote Rekha’s biography Eurekha!, and made a shocking revelation about Rekha’s sexual live-in affair with her Secretary Farzana.

In the 1990s, Rekha’s name also kept linking with some newcomer male co-actors, especially with Akshay Kumar during the shooting of Khiladiyon ka Khiladi, with whom she did a very bold performance in the song In the Night No Control. All this implies she was always a passionate man-lover.

Despite these relationships, the actress has remained single for most of her life, leading to further speculation about her sexuality. Rekha’s bond with her secretary, Farzana, has often been a subject of gossip. Farzana has been a constant presence in Rekha’s life, and their close relationship has fueled rumours of romantic involvement.

Apart from that, Rekha’s name is also linked with another top-rated Indian actress, Tabu, who is also rumoured to be bisexual like Rekha, and both are still single and share a very close bond giving a strong basis to their lesbian relationship.

The life of Rekha, filled with glamour, talent, and mystery, continues to fascinate her fans worldwide. While rumours about her being a lesbian persist but she chooses to keep her personal life very private and never talk about it publically.

2. Tabu

Tabu, one of Bollywood’s top-rated actresses, has maintained a low profile regarding her personal life. She has had several affairs with many leading men of Bollywood in the 1990s and early 2000s, especially with Nagarjuna and Sanjay Kapoor.

However, despite her interest in men, she is also rumoured to have very close friendships with several women in the industry and her choice to remain single has fueled the rumours about her being a lesbian. Despite the speculation, Tabu has never publicly commented on her sexual orientation and kept it very private.

There has been significant speculation about Tabu’s close bond with the legendary actress Rekha. It is interesting to mention both had a long list of affairs with men throughout their careers. Their friendship has been the subject of much gossip due to being spotted together at various events, leading to rumours about possible romantic involvement due to sharing a similar nature of affairs.

Apart from Rekha, Tabu’s name was also linked with acclaimed director Mira Nair regarding a rumoured romantic relationship during the shooting of their film “The Namesake”. However, these rumours were never substantiated, and both Tabu and Mira Nair have always described their relationship as purely professional.

In her recent movie Khifya, she did on-screen lesbian kissing quite comfortably which raised eyebrows and fueled the rumours of her interest in lesbian relationships too.

Despite, she might have an interest in the same gender but she remains passionate about men too and in the recent web series, The Suitable Boy, she did an intense bed scene with a very young co-actor, Ishan Khattar quite comfortably.

3. Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone, a leading and top-rated actress in Bollywood, and got a long list of affairs with men in Bollywood, which never let anyone to doubt over her preferences, she even publically talked about her sex life during during her affair with Ranbir Kapoor.

However, Deepika is a strong advocate for LGBT rights and openly supports the cause which led to rumours of her being interested in lesbian relationships.

During her modelling career, she was rumoured to have been in lesbian encounters, but it didn’t work out for her and she passionately dated only men after her debut in Bollywood and happily married to Ranveer Singh but remains a staunch LGBT supporter and openly supports the lesbian lifestyle.

Despite all rumours of her past lesbian encounters, Deepika has always maintained a dignified silence regarding such rumours, focusing instead on her professional and philanthropic endeavours.

4. Ekta Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor, though not an actress, is a leading name in the Indian film industry and one of the most influential figures in Indian television and Bollywood. She has also been the subject of rumours regarding her sexuality. Known for her close friendships with many actresses and her strong support for LGBTQ+ representation in her productions.

Ekta Kapoor’s personal private life has always been a topic of speculation, with rumours about her sexuality frequently surfacing in the media. Her close friendships with several actresses and her support for LGBTQ+ representation have led to rumours that she might be a lesbian. However, Ekta has never publicly commented on these speculations, keeping her personal life very private.

One of the most talked-about relationships in Ekta’s life is her friendship with Smriti Irani, who played the iconic role of Tulsi in “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.” Their close bond has often been a subject of gossip, with many speculating about the nature of their relationship.

Apart from Simriti, Ekta Kapoor is also rumoured to be in a very close lesbian relationship with Anita Hasandani.

Kalki Koechlin is an acclaimed actress known for her unconventional roles in several blockbuster movies, such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Gully Boy, and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Kalki has been open about her bisexuality, which has contributed to more nuanced conversations about LGBTQ+ representation in Bollywood.

Her bold choices in both her personal and professional life make her a significant figure in this context, and she is one of the prominent lesbian actresses in Bollywood who openly admits her sexual orientation.

Other Prominent Bollywood Actresses Rumored To Be Lesbian

In addition to the actresses mentioned above, several other prominent figures in Bollywood have faced rumours about their sexuality. Priyanka Chopra, a global superstar, has been the subject of speculation regarding her close relationships with female co-stars and friends, fueling rumours about her sexual orientation. Despite her marriage to Nick Jonas, these speculations persist.

Similarly, there have been rumours about a romantic connection between actresses Sonali Bendre and Tabu due to their close friendship.

Another name frequently mentioned in these speculations is Huma Qureshi. Her close bond with actress Kalki Koechlin, who openly admitted her lesbian orientation.

Amrita Arora’s close friendship with Kareena Kapoor Khan has sparked rumours due to their frequent public appearances together and social media posts but it lacks anything substantial because Kareena was always inclined toward men.

Conclusion

The personal lives of Bollywood actresses and notable figures are often under intense public scrutiny, and rumours about their sexuality are a common aspect of this. Despite ongoing speculation, it is crucial to respect their privacy and honour their contributions to the film industry. The focus should always be on their talent, achievements, and the impact they have made on Bollywood and society as a whole.