Anjali Ameer Makes Indian Movie History

Like here in the States, Bollywood has also used male actors to portray trans women

This is old news, but when the bilingual film (Tamil and Malayalam) Peranbu (it's Tamil language title) debuts later this year with Indian film superstar Mammootty in the lead role,  it will have for the first time ever in the history of Indian cinema a trans woman playing a female role.

The person tapped to make that Indian cinematic history is Anjali Ameer   Born in Kerala into an orthodox Muslim family, transitioned in her teens and kept her trans status non disclosed as she started her modeling career until she was dropped from a TV show.  

"Acting was a passion for me," said Ameer in an India Times interview. "As a kid, I used to take part in youth festivals. I feel that acting is the best I can do to bring out my personality."  

The model was suggested to director of the movie Ram by Mammootty, and  Ameer is thrilled to be in her first film with one of India's greatest and most well known actors.

"It was a great experience working with people like Mammootty and director Ram," said Ameer.  To get a character with such a team was a great learning experience.  Initially I was intimidated, but Mammootty encouraged me throughout the shoot."

Ameer also made it clear she doesn't want to be considered just a trans artist.   She is an actress who just wants to try her luck in Bollywood and if a great role comes along, she's ready to play it.

Welcome To The International Trans Fam, Gauri!

"I want to tell the world it's not always easy to be who you are, but you must stay true to yourself'
-Gauri Arora

As I like to continue to remind you TransGriot readers, trans people are part of the diverse mosaic of human life and we inhabit every continent on this planet except Antarctica.

And wouldn't be surprised if one day, we hear about a trans scientist doing some research at the bottom of the world.

During a web surfing session to find some interesting things to talk about, discovered the chatter coming from India about our trans sister Gauri Arora that started back in late September .  

Before her transition, the 24 year old had come out as bisexual on Indian national television, was a six foot tall model with a Men's Health magazine cover shoot to her credit with 8 pack abs, and had appeared on Season 8 of the reality television show MTV Splitsvilla. 

Now the chatter in India is about Arora's metamorphosis to the person she knew she always was and how she is adapting to her new life.

She talked about her transition in this October interview with the Hindustan Times.

 “I have the guts to come out while many don’t. I know that fame and money, I can make anytime as I’m ambitious and capable. This is me, this is my journey and my journey is all about Gauri Arora, who is moving from being the cover model of Men’s Health with eight-pack abs to the new me. Now I want to be on the cover of a women’s magazine. I have gym mates like Jacqueline Fernandes and Sonam Kapoor and they appreciate me like anything. I have a lot of fans and everywhere I go people come up and talk to me. But no one does anything to directly help. I feel there are many people with me but no one with me really. I can’t tell people please accept me, please love me. They take me as a glam thing. But deep down, I’m a girl, and I want a man in my life. And when I’m a woman, I want to adopt a girl child.”

We feel you, Gauri.   many of us have been there with the family rejection.  They may or may not come around, but you are not alone. You are part of an international family now, and we welcome you with open arms to it.

Indian Trans Ceremony Turns Deadly

Indian transpeople who were gathering in New Delhi for an event ended up experiencing a horrific tragedy instead.  

The early on the scene reporting hasn't confirmed whether it was a TDOR, but is reporting it as a three day festival 

The community hall where the event was being held experienced a fire at 7 PM local time that started in the kitchen area and quickly spread through the crowded venue.  There were estimates ranging between 1000-2000 people in attendance at the time the fire started.

Sadly, 14 people were killed with another 40 hospitalized and medical officials expect the death toll will rise because many of the hospitalized people have been admitted with severe burns.   Speculation is faulty wiring caused it, but the fire is being investigated by local officials

Pray for our people there who lost friends, family and loved ones in this tragedy and for the swift recovery of those who suffered injuries during that event.

Indian Trans Activist Interview About Marital Rights

The fight continues around the globe to respect the human rights of transwomen to get married.   Check out this interview on Indian television with trans activist Kalki. 

Indian Transwoman Tells Her Story

Just a reminder that trans people are part of the diverse mosaic of life.    An Indian transwoman tells her story.