Pride Parade

Anjali Ameer made history this year as the first transsexual person to play a lead role in a regional film. But she always was a star.

- Kayalvizhi Arivalan

You don’t have to chat with Anjali Ameer for very long before the fact impresses itself on you that this young actor is here for the long haul. Long after the curiosity about her gender and identity fades away, you know she’ll still be invested in the craft. It’s this die hard spirit that won her the lead role in the bilingual (Tamil and Malayalam) film, Peranbu, starring the legendary Mammootty. A sensitive, friendly 22-year-old, Ameer was born a boy but identified as transsexual as a teenager. The sex reassignment surgery would come later, but early on, she learned how to arm herself with the positivity and energy it takes to fight prejudice every step of the way. And now that she’s here, nothing’s going to break her stride.

How excited are you to be a part of the film industry?

I’m very excited! This has been my wish, my dream and my only career goal. I worked really hard to get here and grabbed every opportunity that came my way.

What was your first day on the set of Peranbu like?