Aashiesh Sharrma, known for his roles in popular television shows such as Siya Ke Ram, Chandragupta Maurya, and Rangrasiya, is currently portraying a transgender character in the film Khejdi. The actor reveals that the most challenging aspect of the role was maintaining emotional honesty without allowing the performance to become exaggerated.
Finding Balance in Portrayal
According to Aashiesh, the biggest challenge was striking the right balance. He explains, "Physically, there was a transformation, but emotionally and mentally, the effort was to remain truthful and not let the performance become exaggerated or performative." Having written the character himself, he admits to moments of fear regarding his own writing. "I kept questioning whether I would be able to do justice to it as an actor. That fear stayed with me for a while, but eventually it pushed me to become more vulnerable and emotionally honest in my performance," he shares.
Intimate Scenes Rooted in Authenticity
The film also includes intimate scenes, notably a same-gender romantic moment where Aashiesh shares a kiss with his male co-star. He emphasizes that these scenes were never intended for shock value but were instead grounded in emotional honesty and the character's personal journey. "None of those scenes were designed for shock value. They were important because they formed a part of the character's emotional journey. It was never about doing something bold. It was simply about staying true to the character and her experiences," he asserts.
Love Beyond Gender
Aashiesh explains that the same-gender romantic track was driven entirely by emotion rather than gender. "The scene was never approached from the perspective of gender. It was about emotion and human connection. If a character is falling in love, that truth needs to come through honestly. Love can be beautiful and brutal at the same time, but it has to feel real," he says. He adds that once he surrendered completely to the character, discomfort disappeared. "In that moment, it wasn't Aashiesh reacting; it was Khejdi living her truth. Once you surrender completely to the character, discomfort disappears and you simply exist within that moment," he concludes.
