From Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Haddi to Sushmita Sen in Taali, 5 Popular Bollywood Actors Who Played Transgenders On-Screen!

The trailer of Haddi was released today and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's performance as a transgender was highly commended! The actor stars in the film alongside Anurag Kashyap, Ila Arun and others. The film has been making headlines since it was announced. And so has Taali which stars Sushmita Sen, and is a series about a real life transgender activist named Shreegauri Sawant. Recently more transgenders are being represented in Bollywood films. While some films have done well to show the struggles transgenders go through to this day, some others have had a bit of difficulty getting the message across albeit they are made with good intentions. Still, it must've been one hell of a journey to get to this point and be able to make an impact on audiences. Haddi Trailer: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Anurag Kashyap’s ZEE5 Film Promises to Be Spine-Chilling Crime Thriller!

And many big actors being attached to these films also gives this important topic the attention it deserves. Actors like Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Sushmita Sen and more have played transgenders on-screen and put on performances that etch themselves into your mind and will have you shedding tears. So here are five films and shows where popular actors played transgenders that you should definitely check out, and will hopefully help one understand more about India's third gender.

Akshay Kumar, Sharad Kelkar in Laxmii 

This remake of Kanchana shows Akshay Kumar as an atheist who doesn't believe in ghosts who, however, get possessed by the spirit of a transgender named Laxmii, played by Sharad Kelkar. He begins to act like Laxmii and take revenge on people responsible for Laxmii's death.

Sushmita Sen in Taali 

Sushmita Sen's strong performance as Shreegauri Sawant in Taali is certainly one to be remembered. The film shows transgender activist, Gauri's important moments in life, including her fight for transgenders and struggles as a transgender.

Paresh Rawal in Tamanna

Many people may not know that Paresh Rawal also played a transgender woman in this 1997 film, directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Paresh plays Tikku, who adopts an abandoned girl and raises her as her own, naming her Tamanna. They soon find out that Tamanna is the daughter of a politician and confront her family about why they abandoned her. 

Rajpal Yadav in Ardh 

Rajpal Yadav plays Shiva in Ardh, a struggling theatre actor whose dream is to become a well known actor and work in big films. Shiva, with the help of his wife Madhu, dresses up as a transgender and begs for money on the streets in order to survive. Hyderabad: Dr Koyyala Ruth Paul John Becomes First Transgender Person To Get MD Admission at ESI College.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Haddi 

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's film Haddi, is scheduled to release on September 7. The trailer which was released recently, shows the actor in the avatar of a transgender named Haddi. Haddi goes from being a rookie, to joining a gang of transgenders in Delhi, led by a very powerful man. He makes his way to the top, while seeking revenge for his family of transgenders the whole time.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2023 06:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).