Anjali Varadhan

Anjali Varadhan Biography

Anjali Varadhan, also pronounced as Anjali Varathan is a transgender actress belonging to Tamil cinema. She shot to fame after playing the very strong supporting role of a transgender AIDS patient, Emily / Jessica for 2017 Tamil highly acclaimed film, Aruvi, co-staring Aditi Balan. She received overwhelming response from every corner for her heart touching role as Aruvi’s friend in the movie. Like many co-stars of the film including the lead heroine, she too was a newcomer who left an impression with the debut flick. The movie was showcased at many international film festivals and she won Best Supporting Actress at Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards 2018. She also got a nomination at Filmfare awards south in Best Supporting Actress category.

Anjali Varadhan didn’t expect that she would be selected, while she attended the auditions. She was casted in a full-length role of a transgender in the film, who plays Aruvi’s friend. Her innocence and screen presence stole the heart of audience, and though not an experienced or natural actor, she left a mark in the film throughout. She says she did not face any discrimination on the sets. The entire team had three months of rehearsals and spent a lot of time in the pre-production. But the movie was completed on a Shoe string budget of 1 crore. When the movie got released, it was a blockbuster collecting 35 crore at ticket counters. The movie was also shown at different film festivals.

In majority of Indian films, transgender people are usually portrayed in comic roles or shown in bad light. But that’s not the case in Aruvi. The story is the journey of two people who share their joys and sorrows, Anjali played a serious and meaty role in the film. It’s one of the most prominent roles played by a transgender in Indian cinema in the recent times.

Published: July 23, 2018

Updated: July 23, 2018