Bollywood stars praise lesbian movie Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

A still from Bollywood lesbian film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Bollywood stars and fans have rushed to praise groundbreaking lesbian film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga on its first day in cinemas.

The Bollywood movie, which translates as How I Felt When I Saw That Girl, stars Sonam Kapoor as the lesbian daughter of her real-life father Anil Kapoor.

The film came out on Friday (February 1), marking the first time mainstream Indian cinema has embraced a same-sex romance on the big screen.

Bollywood stars love Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Less than five months after India’s Supreme Court overturned Section 377 and decriminalised gay sex, audiences have seen Sonam Kapoor’s character Sweety Chaudhary fall in love with another woman—and they’re ecstatic.

Bollywood’s finest have expressed how much they enjoyed watching the lesbian movie, with award-winning actress Swara Bhasker tweeting: “What an absolutely delightful, warm & uplifting film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is!

“A wonderful movie that stays with you, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is both relevant and funny”

— Twinkle Khanna

“Such an important story told with sensitivity & care. STELLAR performances all around. MUST WATCH!”

Author and actress Twinkle Khanna wrote: “A wonderful movie that stays with you Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is both relevant and funny. @sonamakapoor is absolutely lovely and @iam_juhi you cracked me up… Folks go watch it!”

Khanna’s husband, famed actor and producer Akshay Kumar, tweeted: “We just watched Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and in one word, it’s BRILLIANT! @AnilKapoor, @sonamakapoor & @iam_juhi great performances and aptly cast and @RajkummarRao what a role! Guys do watch it, I loved it!”

Kumar was so struck by the film he tweeted again, half an hour later: “Still thinking about this beautiful film, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga—hats off to this woman! @sonamakapoor take a bow for making this film, deals with an important subject so wonderfully.”

Sonam Kapoor and Regina Cassandra in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

The film, starring Sonam and Anil Kapoor, has been widely praised (Fox Star Studios)

Writing about the lesbian film, actress Kriti Sanon said: “Hats off to the team of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga for picking up such an important and sensitive topic and showing it so subtly! @sonamakapoor kudos to u @AnilKapoor sir, @iam_juhi mam you guys are fab and a treat to watch! @RajkummarRao you amaze me every time my friend!❤️ .”


Farah Khan, an actress, producer and choreographer, said: “Saw Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga last night… such a difficult subject handled with so much dignity and restraint.

“Wishing All the very best to its cast n crew!! It’s an important film, first of its kind.”

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga receives glowing reviews from the audience

Viewers who have watched the landmark lesbian movie expressed appreciation for its quality and for what it means to LGBT+ people in India.

One person tweeted: “A movie one should watch with family. An eye-opener for parents and children. @AnilKapoor is THE soul of the film. @sonamakapoor was sweet n convincing.”

Another person who reviewed the lesbian movie wrote: “Watched the first day, first show of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. Kudos to the makers who made a movie on such a subject which is still considered a Big NO!NO! in our society in the most entertaining way possible.

“Recommending everyone to watch it. Trust me you won’t regret it!”

“It’s written with such honesty, simplicity, and tenderness by [Gazal Dhaliwal] that I simply cannot praise her enough”

— @hussainhaidry

A different fan wrote: “While watching this movie had a smile throughout. Great performance from Anil and Sonam, Raj & Juhi. A movie with such an important message that everyone has the right to love anyone they want to. 2 hours well spent .”

One tweeter commented: “Watched Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga today—first day, first show. It’s been almost three hours since I’ve watched it, and I still can’t get it out of my mind—it’s written with such honesty, simplicity, and tenderness by @gazalstune that I simply cannot praise her enough :’).”

And yet another person who saw and loved the lesbian film tweeted: “Shelly Chopra’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga makes an important statement that same-sex relationships are not a disease.

“The important point is to accept these relationships without loading it with the baggage of guilt.”