Heteroflexible: A Trend, an Identity, or Something More?

Somewhere between Dostana’s playful bromance and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’s all-out rebellion, there lies a space that people are only now starting to talk about. Heteroflexibility—when someone is mostly straight but open to exploring beyond that—isn’t exactly new, but the way we discuss it? That’s changed.

Is it just another trend? A serious identity? Or something far deeper that Bollywood (and real life) has been hinting at for years? Let’s talk about it.

What Does Heteroflexible Even Mean?

It’s not quite bisexuality, where attraction spans across genders. It’s fluid, it’s personal, and it’s happening more than we think.

This fluidity in attraction has sparked different interpretations. Some see heteroflexibility as a trend, others as an identity, and for many, it’s something more complex. As Akarshi Kr. puts it:

Heteroflexibility can be seen in different ways— as a trend, an identity, or something more complex. Social media and cultural changes have made it more visible, but calling it just a trend doesn’t do justice to the personal stories behind it.

Bollywood Knows, Even If It Won’t Say It Out Loud

Let’s be honest— Bollywood has been playing with this idea forever, just without naming it.

Remember Kal Ho Naa Ho? When Saif Ali Khan’s character panics every time someone assumes he and Shah Rukh Khan are a couple? It’s funny, sure. But it also hints at something real—why is being “almost” something so much scarier than fully embracing it?

Or take Kapoor & Sons, where Fawad Khan’s character struggles to live his truth. His family would rather believe he’s straight than deal with the complexity of his actual identity. That’s the thing—heteroflexibility exists in this gray space where people don’t know whether to take it seriously or laugh it off.

And of course, Dostana—a whole movie based on pretending to be gay, but with moments where lines blur, even if just for comedy’s sake. It’s Bollywood’s way of acknowledging attraction isn’t always black and white, even if it isn’t quite ready to have that conversation fully.

Hollywood Has Been Saying It Louder

Hollywood is embracing heteroflexibility more openly, especially in movies, TV shows, and celebrity culture. The idea of being “mostly straight but sometimes flexible” fits into the modern “no labels” or “love is love” mindset.Hollywood, on the other hand, has been a bit more direct. Friends gave us moments where Ross, Chandler, and Joey awkwardly explored affection in a way that suggested maybe there’s more to it than just being a joke.

Then there’s Call Me by Your Name and Brokeback Mountain, which threw subtlety out the window. These weren’t just films about love—they were about how attraction doesn’t always fit into neat little categories.

More recently, shows like Euphoria and Sex Education are doing what Bollywood still shies away from—letting characters be fluid without making it a huge deal. They exist, they explore, they move on. Simple.

But It’s Not Just Movies—It’s Real Life

If you look around, it’s not hard to find examples outside of films. Ever heard someone say, “It was just a one-time thing” or “It didn’t mean anything” after a same-sex experience? That’s heteroflexibility in action.

Take someone like Harry Styles—he plays with androgyny, flirts with the idea of fluidity, and refuses to label himself. Closer home, Indian celebrities keep it ambiguous, too. Karan Johar has hinted at things without saying them outright. Many stars have been linked to people of different genders, but without any declarations. It’s there, even if it’s whispered.

So, Is It a Trend or Something Real?

The world is more open than it used to be. Gen Z especially sees sexuality as less rigid—more about connection than categories. Dating apps now include labels like “heteroflexible,” proving that it’s not just a fleeting idea. But does that mean it’s an identity?

For some, absolutely. For others, it’s just an experience, a moment, or an open-minded approach to love.

The key to understanding heteroflexibility is empathy, says psychologist Nutan Kanth from D.Y. Patil International University, Pune

It’s about listening to individual experiences without making assumptions or applying stereotypes. Encouraging self-awareness and creating a safe, open space for exploration can help people feel more comfortable in their own skin, free from judgment or pressure. Sexuality is deeply personal, and for many, heteroflexibility is a real and meaningful part of who they are. It gives them the freedom to move beyond rigid labels like ‘straight’ or ‘bisexual,’ which can feel limiting. It’s especially empowering for those who don’t fit neatly into traditional boxes.

Because at the end of the day, love and attraction have never been one-size-fits-all. Maybe it’s time we stop forcing definitions and just let people feel what they feel. After all, isn’t love supposed to be limitless?