‘It’s Gauri’s story… she chose me’, says Sushmita Sen on playing a trans-character

Mumbai(India), 08/08/23: Fans of Sushmita Sen, who has transformed herself into transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant for Taali, have not stopped praising her. The JioCinema original series will premiere on Independence Day and will tell the story of Ganesh and the trials she encountered as she transformed into Gauri, as well as the never-ending struggles that followed.

When the offer came, it was a wonderful time for Sushmita, but it wasn’t an automatic yes.

In an interview with Indian Express she said, “I met the makers, there were a number of back and forth. It was after meeting Gauri that I knew a lot of people can do this role but I would do it with the most amount of love.”

Sushmita’s efforts are definitely obvious in the trailer, from getting the look to tweaking the voice to match the character. The actor stated that they did not want to cheat on anything and wanted to stay true to themselves. She revealed that, while the style was pre-planned, she worked with Atul Mongia to perfect the body language. Sushmita also praised the stylist for her meticulous attention to detail.

She said, “She did unbelievable homework with not just Gauri but also Ganesh’s looks. Gauri wears the watch with the dial inside, or a black thread and rudraksh. Everything about her has been done just the same way.”

While the actor has received positive feedback from the audience, some members believe that Shreegauri might have played the role herself. Many others also pointed out how a transgender actor may have been cast in the role. When questioned if the hubbub bothers her because she worked so hard on the production, Sushmita responded that, while they are not incorrect, it was Gauri’s decision to cast her in the role.

She elaborated, she said, “I think in a greater conversation they are not wrong. It is time all talented people are hired for the job irrespective of their gender or if the role demands it. But in this case, firstly Gauri chose me. I didn’t know about this show, had no idea. She made sure that the makers approached me with the offer. I will forever remain in her debt for it allowed me a bigger voice through her story.”