But one of the lesbian films, which released back in 2004, gained massive backlash.
Starring Isha Koppikar, Amrita Arora and Aashish Chaudhary in lead roles, the film was directed by Karan Razdan.
2 / 8 Girlfriend revolved around Tanya, played by Isha Koppikar, a possessive woman deeply attached to her friend Sapna, portrayed by Amrita Arora.
ADVERTISEMENT3 / 8 Girlfriend was widely discussed for being promoted as a lesbian-themed Bollywood film.
6 / 8 Years later, even Amrita Arora openly admitted regretting the film during her appearance on Koffee with Karan.
Last Updated: May 21, 2026, 21:39 IST
1 / 8 Bollywood has had several films around homosexuality. But one of the lesbian films, which released back in 2004, gained massive backlash. We are talking about Girlfriend. Starring Isha Koppikar, Amrita Arora and Aashish Chaudhary in lead roles, the film was directed by Karan Razdan. It became one of the most controversial releases of its time because it openly explored same-sex attraction, something rarely shown in mainstream Hindi cinema back then.
2 / 8 Girlfriend revolved around Tanya, played by Isha Koppikar, a possessive woman deeply attached to her friend Sapna, portrayed by Amrita Arora. Trouble begins when Sapna falls in love with Rahul, played by Aashish Chaudhary. Tanya’s jealousy and obsession gradually turn dangerous, creating a psychological drama mixed with romance, suspense and emotional conflict.
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3 / 8 Girlfriend was widely discussed for being promoted as a lesbian-themed Bollywood film. At a time when LGBTQ+ subjects were barely explored in Bollywood, the movie attracted curiosity and attention. However, many critics later argued that instead of presenting a sensitive same-sex relationship, the film relied heavily on sensationalism, erotic scenes and exaggerated stereotypes.
4 / 8 The film faced massive backlash soon after its release. Reportedly, several political and social groups protested against the movie, claiming it hurt Indian culture and wrongly portrayed lesbian relationships. Demonstrations were reported outside cinemas in cities like Mumbai and Indore, while some theatres allegedly faced vandalism attempts.
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5 / 8 However, even the controversy could not help this film gain visibility at the box office. The film earned just Rs 41 lakh on its opening day and had a lifetime box office collection of around Rs 6 crore.
6 / 8 Years later, even Amrita Arora openly admitted regretting the film during her appearance on Koffee with Karan. When asked by Karan Johar if she had fun doing the movie, the actress candidly replied, “No. I am not someone who regrets things but that’s something if I could go back and change, I would change that.”
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7 / 8 Amrita further explained that she initially believed the subject was progressive, but later felt the execution disappointed her. She said, “When I heard the subject, Karan, it was very progressive and when I saw the film, it was just a sleaze fest.” She also revealed her family walked out of the screening midway, saying they were deeply uncomfortable watching the film.
