Bollywood reacts to repealing of Section 377

With Section 377 of the IPC which declared homosexuality to be illegal been repealed by Delhi HC, Bollywood celebrities rejoice and share their views on the matter.

Shatrughan Sinha: "Old rusty laws are like useless politicians. They should be thrown out. I'm glad Section 377 has been repealed. It was long due. What two people do in the privacy of their bedroom is nobody's business, certainly not the governments. Homosexuality is not a phenomenon restricted to one country culture or community. All over the world some of the finest minds are inclined towards same-sex relationships. What is wrong with that, as long as two people are happy?"

Sushmita Sen: "This is truly a happy day. I always salute decisions that celebrate an individual's right to choose. I could never understand any form of love or any kind of relationship being 'criminal'. I'm very proud of the government for finally recognizing that homosexuality can't be judged. Cheers to all those human beings who have won the freedom of choices. After all what could be more natural than that?"

Mugdha Godse: "I welcome this decision with open arms. I'm happy that a man now has as much right to love a man as he has the right to love a woman. Gays no longer need to hide their feelings. I'm happy for many of my friends."

John Abraham: "I think the right to a personal choice is a very fundamental right, and thank God the law against homosexuals has been repealed. Yes, I've a lot gay fans and I did a film Dostana which mercifully did not ridicule the community. But even if I hadn't, I'd still be very happy if the gay community gets a voice and a choice. I've been brought up in very liberal Parsi-Catholic household. I believe minorities don't exist any longer. Every community including homosexuals has a majority voice."

Rituparno Ghosh: "Better late than never!"

Manisha Koirala: "Some of my closest friends are gay, and they are among the best human beings that I know. I think such an ancient law needed to be repealed long ago. We live in contemporary times when people of all genders and sexual preferences must be looked at in the same line of vision."

Celina Jaitley: "I'm overwhelmed. I've received over one lakh messages. My phone crashed. It's a turning point in the history of human rights in the world's largest democracy. It's also a personal victory for me since I've been fighting for gay rights. Now they can walk with their heads held high. This is a new beginning."

Rensil D'Silva: "About time we got out of the dark ages."

Shekhar Kapoor: "This should've been done long ago."

Irrfan Khan: "It's a sign of a system adopting a viewpoint that indicates openness. This will rid the guilt that gays live with and stop police exploitation of the community. I played a gay character in Mira Nair's short film directed by Zoya Akhtar. I researched on their anguish. It was terrifying."

Tarun Mansukhani: "It's a huge achievement and I'm proud to have been part of this movement through my film Dostana. The repeal of this outdated law gives homosexuals an identity and a legal recognition. Today they've the right to their freedom."

Raima Sen: "Good for democracy."

Kunal Kohli: "Freedom of choice is very important in a democracy. That should not be cramped when it comes to sexual preference. This is a progressive step by a progressive government."

Neha Dhupia: "I think it is great. We're a free country. And the biggest freedom is the freedom of choice. I fully support the judgment. It's a very progressive step."

Rajeev Khandelwal: "I believe in, to each his own. That article 377 has been repealed reveals a very mature attitude to a universal issue."

Mahesh Bhatt: "This is a defining moment in the history of free India. No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only 'queer' people are those who propagate hate."

Chitrangda Singh: "I think it's great. Every individual has the right to self-expression. Homosexuality didn't stop existing just because we all denied it. I'm all for it."

Amrita Arora: "Fantastic news! It's high time we treated gay couples like any heterosexual pair. I've a lot of gay friends and I'm very happy for them. In our society legal acceptance is equivalent to social acceptance."

Neil Nitin Mukesh: "Thank God people realized homosexuals are human beings with deep emotions and urges for which they were being punished for years. Now they can live peacefully without the law breathing down their necks. This change was long overdue."

Riya Sen Riya Sen: "Most of my closest friends are homosexuals. I'm very happy for the gay community. We're a democracy so why curb anyone's freedom?"

Rahul Khanna: "This is an important and long due step in the right direction. Hopefully this is the first among steps towards eschewing the archaic and making us a truly progressive and egalitarian nation."

Raveena Tandon: "Absolutely fantastic! Equal rights for all and the freedom of choice."

Subhash Ghai: "I'm always receptive to the changing world and the truth about human nature being revealed. Since the inner truth is always more real than the social truth the reality within takes time to come out and be accepted by society."

Madhur Bhandarkar: "I fully support the Delhi high court's decision. It's a progressive move."

Sonu Sood: "Better late than never. It's good to see our constitution has finally grown. Everyone has the right to live and love the way he wants."

Upen Patel: "I think it's a great move forward by the government and for Indian society. Everyone should have the right to choose whom they want to be without the fear of being labeled a criminal."

Neetu Chandra: "It's a great move to understand and provide rights to those who were long denied the freedom to be themselves."

Imtiaz Ali: "One more step forward in personal freedom and towards building a fair and liberated country."

Abbas Tyrewala: "I'm amazed and delighted. It's a step I thought we wouldn't be ready to take for another twenty years. Now if only we showed the same maturity in providing the right to freedom and option in marriage, religion, censorship, etc."

Sanjay Suri (played gay in My Brother Nikhil): "Criminalization of gay sex among consenting adults was a violation of fundamental human rights. It's a progressive judgment. The law should have been done away with ages ago."

Purab Kohli (played gay in My Brother Nikhil): "Super. It's a giant step ahead in the image India is building globally."

Apoorva Lakhia: "May the force be with them. About time. A right step in the right direction for the New India."