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Four years ago, when India’s census added an option for a third gender/an “other” category, the results revealed that almost 5,00,000 people of those surveyed identified as transgender. While activists estimate the real count to be 6 or 7 times higher, this data finally allowed the Indian government to establish the legal existence of this community – one that has been deeply stigmatised, ostracised and subjected to horrific violence throughout the history of India. Legal victories are undoubtedly important. They forge the path to come and provide tangible milestones, but, in a way, they also fall short. Legal progress is incomplete without a subsequent cultural and social shift. Constitutional rights hold little value if your neighbourhood continues to discriminate against you.
“If you’re transgender, to be able to fulfill your dream, regardless of how basic it might be, you have to be very ambitious. There are no resources available,” said Rudrani Chettri, 41. Rudrani, who identifies as transgender, is an activist, model, actor and the founder of ‘Bold’, India’s first transgender modelling agency. “If, for example, I wanted to be a professional cook, getting into even a basic cooking class would be very difficult for me. Everything is regulated by gender stereotypes. There is no space for those who identify as transgender,” she added.
Inclusive workplaces are a dream, one that we’re still struggling to achieve. But while policies can be adopted to make some work environments more inclusive, there are certain industries that just don’t function like a typical corporate workplace. The film industry has always been a rather secluded one. It’s inaccessible to most, especially India’s transgender community who, despite finding representation on screen, doesn’t get the same opportunities in real life. One way to spearhead those shifts and open up candid dialogue is by presenting these narratives sincerely and accurately in mainstream film and television, mediums that have incredible pull in Indian society. “Compared to a cisgender or heterosexual aspiring actor, our (transgender community’s) journey is very different. The industry isn’t as inclusive as we like for example, the fact that a cisgender person is given preference to play a role of a person from the LGBTQ+ community says it all,” explained 19-year-old Bonita Singh Rajpurohit, who is model, actor, artist and activist, and identifies as transgender. “CInian film inustry needs to realise its power and responsibility,” she adds. Faraz Ansari, director of Sisak –– an award-winning short film hailed as India’s first LGBTQ love story –– concurred. While speaking with Homegrown about challenges he is facing to cast an older transgender woman for his first feature film, Sabr, he said ““I wanted to tell a story that doesn’t conform to societal norms, in order to actually change those norms. When a director in the U.S. does an open casting call for transgender actors, 5000 or so will show up. If I did it here, not even 5 people would be able to come. Because Bollywood is extremely transphobic and no one cares about the emotional impact of misrepresentation.” “India is no country for trans actors,” he added with transparent sadness.
After spending six months looking for someone who’d fit the bill, he realised the crucial gap and lack of support system when it comes to on-screen representation of marginalised communities. Perhaps that one eye-opening experience was all Faraz needed to do something about such a bleak reality. In order to create avenues and mainstream platforms for India’s transgender community, Faraz launched TRANSaction –– a series of free acting workshops for the Indian transgender community, in association with Keshav Suri Foundation and the LaLit Group of Hotels. Taking place over three days in two batches between March 1 to 10, 2019, TRANSaction focused on mentoring and skill-building of 60 participants from the transgender and LGBTQIA+ community across India. The idea behind these workshops was to provide exposure to the interested members of the community and equip them with basic acting skills. Moreover, to provide them with access to individuals from the industry and help them understand the different processes involved in filmmaking.
“The workshop was rewarding than what I expected it to be. I went in with a mindset of helping the transgender community and in a way be a medium to connect the community with mainstream cinema. However, what happened was that along with the participants and mentors transforming, I too had a transformation. It was very cathartic,” Faraz told Homegrown while speaking about the TRANSaction workshops. “I walked in with the intent to give, but by the end of it I was the one taking back home so much –– invaluable lessons that will stay with me forever, the bonds that we made were like families formed. I don’t think people in India are ready to hear stories that the marginalized communities in India have to share. Just providing one platform for that can bring about such catharsis, I don’t think anyone expected that,” he added.
Rudrani was one of the attendees for TRANSaction workshops that took place in Delhi. “It was only after attending this workshop that I actually started believing it. Before this, I would just think that this (being an actor) is something I’ve made up in my head,” she said. “Transgenders are only associated with loud colours and flamboyant appearances, what isn’t recognised is that they invest their har earned money to be able to look feminine or to express themselves. That isn’t appreciated because they don’t have platforms to express themselves like they want to. Initiatives like TRANSaction help bring out the actors hidden within the community, it helps bring to life the dreams that before now seemed unrealistic and unachievable. Creation of a resource is what is the most important aspect,” she added. Bonita, who attended TRANSaction workshops organised in Mumbai, too echoed Rudrani’s concern with lack of opportunity an accurate representation –– “Transgenders are limited to playing certain characters which isn’t what reality is at all. We have all kins of jobs an distinctive personalities –– this needs to be represented,” said Bonita.
It’s about time that the Indian film industry assumes responsibility and does away with the rigid gendered structures that govern the very core of it. “The onus of the responsibility needs to be shared by everyone. Here is a community that needs love and support, and we as a society have discarded them because they don’t fit what society defines as “normal.” If that’s the rationale then why don’t we ask if our normal is normal for them?” signs off Faraz.
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