How Madhuri Dixit Became a Bollywood Queer Icon

Born on 15 May 1967, Madhuri Dixit made her Bollywood debut with 'Abodh' (1984).

Madhuri Dixit's birthday falls on 15 May.

(Photo Courtesy: Pinterest/ Altered by The Quint)

(This story was first published on 15 May 2023. It has been republished from The Quint’s archives for the Pride 2025 campaign "Queer, Not Quiet.") 

For the longest time, Indian cinema (and cinema as a whole) didn't treat its queer characters well – they were either ridiculed for comic effect, turned into malicious villains or ended up being the inconsequential (sometimes predatory) sidekick.

In times like this, queer people found projections of themselves within cinema, creating Bollywood queer icons. Whether it be Meena Kumari's tragic yearning, Rekha's rejection of the heteronormativity, or Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi's mesmerising dance numbers, Indian queer folk made a space for themselves within films.

But how did Bollywood's 'Dhak Dhak girl' become a queer icon in her own merit, even before she played an overtly queer role (in Maja Ma)?

Watch the video to find out.