Media portrayals of bisexuals in a positive light

Media portrayals of bisexuality have been minimal and are something that is seldom heard of. They were used as supporting characters, joked about, or they are depicted in a negative light.

Media is a tool through which people consume information and content. But slowly, things are changing with the media being more inclusive and considerate and better at accurately portraying the characters.

In this blog, we talk about the media portrayal of bisexuals in our country.

1. Margarita with a straw (2014)

Starring Kalki, who plays the role of a teenage girl. She is suffering from a movement disorder named cerebral palsy. Laila (Kalki) falls in love with a young activist and gets confused about her sexuality. The character work was commendable and is definitely one of the strongest media portrayals of bisexuals in Indian cinema.

Duration- 2 hours 20 minutes

Genre- Drama/Romance

Directed by Shonali Bose

IMDb Rating- 7.2/10

Available On Netflix India

2. Fire (1996)

Though the movie is allegedly about a lesbian relationship, the characters could be considered bisexual. They were in a loveless marriage and later explored their feelings for each other.

Duration- 1 hour 48 Minutes

Genre- Drama/Romance

Directed by Deepa Mehta

IMDb Rating- 7.2/10

Available On Hotstar India

3. Padmavat (2018)

Allaudin Khilji’s character, played by Ranveer Singh, was bisexual. He had a sexual relationship with Malik Kafur (his slave general) and had deep feelings for queen Padmavati. This also tells us that bisexuality is not something very new but has been present for ages.

Duration- 2 hours 44 Minutes

Genre- Drama/Romance/History

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

IMDb Rating- 7/10

Available On Amazon Prime

4. Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd (2007)

Six newlywed couples tell the story of their hidden secrets and adventures to the viewers and to themselves. Amisha Patel’s character is married to Karan Khanna in the film, but the relationship between them changes when she discovers he is bisexual. Although, the word bisexual was never used in the movie.

Duration- 1 hour 59 Minutes

Genre- Comedy/Romance

Directed by Reema Kagti

IMDb Rating- 6.1/10

Available On Amazon Prime

5. Four More Shots Please! (2019- present)

The series is about four best friends who balance their lives, family and relationships; no matter what, they have each other’s back. Amongst all of this Bani J’s character is portrayed as bisexual and was performed with utmost perfection. She also mentioned in an interview that she was applauded for the role rather than being trolled.

Duration – 2 seasons

Genre – Drama, Romance

Created by Rangita Nandy

IMDb rating – 6.6/10

Available On Amazon Prime Video

6. Sacred Games (2018-2019)

The whole nation loved this web series. Ganesh Gaitonde’s character in the first season had a sexual affair with a homosexual person. Later in the second season, he gets involved with Guruji played by Pankaj Tripathi and explores his bisexual side. Despite all the violence and hurling, the homosexual characters in the series were given the respect and care they deserved.

Duration – 2 seasons

Genre – Crime Thriller Conspiracy

Created by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap

IMDb rating – 8.6/10

Available On Netflix India

A look at the west media portrayal of bisexuals.

7. The Bold Type (2017-2021)

The Bold Type is unapologetically a feminist show that portrays the journey of Kat Edison from straight to queer in a very decent way. The series does not simply pass with the queer character but shows her entire experience while exploring her sexuality. It also shows how bisexuals are treated in the LGBT+ community along with many other relevant feminist issues.

Duration – 5 seasons

Genre – Comedy/Romance

Created by Sarah Watson

IMDb rating – 7.9/10

Available On Netflix India

8. Brooklyn 99 (2013-2021)

A light-hearted comedy show about cops and their lives. The show also touches on relevant topics like racism, sexism and homophobia through humour. By the end of season 5, Stephanie Beatriz’s character Rosa Diaz reveals that she is bisexual. The other characters in the series do not make a big deal about it and respect her as before.

Duration – 8 seasons

Genre – Comedy/Romance/Crime

Created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur

IMDb rating – 8.4/10

Available On Netflix India

9. Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Adaptation of the book with the same name, Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall, is bisexual in the story. She started to have a relationship with a woman but dated several men previously.

Duration – 2 seasons

Genre – Comedy/Romance/Drama

Created by Darren Star

IMDb rating – 7.2/10

Available On Hotstar

Even in 2021, media portrayals of bisexuals are not up to the mark. It is very minimal with the representation being wrong. Even if they show the character, the word bisexual is rarely mentioned. Incorrect representation of the community in media is a big drawback that leads to us talking about our sexualities only through whispers. While we can say the media might have made a lil’ progress, there is still a long way to go.