World AIDS Day 2021: 5 Bollywood Films That Broke Stigma And Spread Awareness

Phir Milenge: Inspired by Tom Hanks’ ‘Philadelphia’, ‘Phir Milenge’ stars Shilpa Shetty, Salman Khan and Abhishek Bachchan in the lead roles.The film revolves around Shilpa’s character Tamanna, who tests positive for HIV, and is fired from her job due to the taboos surrounding the disease. The film is directed by Revathi, who also played the role of Tamanna’s doctor in the film. (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)

Dus Kahaniyaan: ‘Dus Kahaniyaan’ is a collection of 10 short films and the film ‘Zahir’, starring Dia Mirza and Manoj Bajpayee, is based on the subject of HIV/AIDS. Directed by Sanjay Gupta, the short film tells the story of a Sia (Dia) who befriends her new neighbour Sahil (Manoj). After the two become friends, Sahil makes advances for intimacy but Sia refuses to consent. One night when he visits a bar with his friends he sees that Sia works as a bar dancer. Frustrated and drunk, he visits her apartment and despite her attempts to have a conversation, he rapes her. Later, it is revealed that Sia was suffering from AIDS. (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)

Positive: Farhan Akhtar’s directorial ‘Positive’ was a part of short films made for creating awareness about AIDS.Starring Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani and Arjun Mathur in the lead roles. The film tries to bring out the emotional conundrum a family faces when hit with such shattering circumstances. (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)

68 Pages: Directed by Sridhar Rangayan, the film is based on an HIV/AIDS counsellor and four of her clients — a commercial sex worker, an intravenous drug user, a homosexual and a transsexual bar dancer. The film portrays how society stigmatises and shuns those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)

My Brother Nikhil: Starring Sanjay Suri as the protagonist Nikhil and Juhi Chawla as his sister Anamika, this film is about a swimming champion whose life falls apart when he gets diagnosed with HIV. He is kicked out from the swimming team and his parents do not support him either. ‘My Brother… Nikhil’ proved to be a landmark film as it dealt with the stigma associated with HIV and homosexuality. (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)