I know there is a scene, mostly underground in India, in the big cities, having seen a few documentaries about this.
BDSM is illegal in pretty much every country round the world, even with increasing media representation (most awful) and I know there are some BDSM themed series made in India, but suspect that BDSM is also illegal in India, so non kink/alternative society, world wide doesn't understand us, or want to, and in some places the attitude is hostile to say the least. Government seeks to protect us from ourselves, therefore setting themselves up to institutionally and legally know what's best, and therefore no one can consent to any physical harm within a sexual context, even with consent between those parties involved. In my part of the world marks on skin that are more than trifling and transitory are illegal and constitute assault. No one can consent to assault. There are a few places were blind eyes are turned, tolerance between consenting people considered but most, no. You can read more here -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM_and_the_law
Kink acceptance in wider society, if ever, is something that society has yet to seriously consider, LGBTQ+ people are still fighting and even dying to win their acceptance in the world, in some places gains hard fought are being lost and I suspect kink acceptance is very much on the long finger.
In most peoples minds, we are freaks, perverts and the other, much as LGBTQ+ people were, and in someplaces still are, and we are hated and many people are scared of us, they don't understand us, our choices, sexuality and lifestyles. This will vary from place to place, country and society, but coming out to friends and family is incredibly risky, as is being out and proud.
In many cases people outed have lost jobs and even had their family effected, so yes I think many people are afraid of coming out, or being outed. A few trusted friends know about me, but I was sure how they would react, but most people don't know about me and I have no intention of ever telling them, as its none of their business. I don't share or flaunt my sexuality, or my kink, and I am very much of the view that no one who has not consented should ever see or be involved in a kink scene.
As far as I am concerned its on a need to know basis, and only those I am involved with, or about to be involved with need to know. Its as simple as that, and discretion and privacy are sacred things in the kink lifestyle. Those who treat privacy and discretion casually are people I want no involvement with.