Sushmita Sen aroused her fans’ and film-enthusiasts’ interests when she unveiled the first look from her upcoming biopic Taali, based on a transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant last year.
The excitement reached its peak today when Sushmita Sen revealed the teaser of the movie on her Instagram profile. The teaser begins with Sushmita’s voice over where she introduces herself as Shreegauri Sawant, while adjusting her saree in front of a mirror. She says in the teaser that some people call her (read Shreegauri Sawant) “<i>h****</i>” (eunuch), some “social activist” and some “nautanki”(dramatic).
Sushmita then summed up her journey in the movie with these words, “Gaali se taali tak (From cuss words to clapping).” The teaser then delves into many facets of Shreegauri Sawant from her early days to the present time. The teaser promises that the film will have powerful dialogues. One such is when Sushmita aka Shreegauri Sawant says, “Swabhiman, samman, swatantrata, mujhe ye teeno chahiye (Self-respect, respect and independence – I need these three things).” The teaser ends with a punchline and Sushmita enacted it with grace. When a character says to Shreegauri Sawant, “Ready to go, Gauri?”, Gauri gives a prompt reply, “Bachpan se (From childhood days).”
Sharing the teaser, Sushmita Sen captioned it, “Gaali se Taali tak ke safar ki yeh kahaani. Presenting the story of Shreegauri Sawant’s fight for India’s third gender. #TaaliOnJioCinema streaming free 15 Aug.” Taali will stream on Jio Cinema from 15 August. Kshitij Patwardhan, who has written the story of the movie, commented on Sushmita’s post. He wrote, “You are an inspiration and a dream for every writer.” Tanisha Mukerjee wrote, “Wow. u are something else.”
Unveiling the first look, Sushmita Sen wrote, “Taali – Bajaungi nahi, bajwaungi. First look as Shreegauri Sawant. Nothing makes me prouder and more grateful than to have the privilege of portraying this beautiful person and of bringing her story to the world. Here’s to life and to everyone’s right to live it with dignity! I love you guys.”
Shreegauri Sawant, a transgender activist and the trustee of the Sai Savli Foundation Trust worked for the people suffering from HIV/AIDS. She also fought for the rights of transgender people in the country from the front. Taali has been written by Kshitij Patwardhan and directed by Ravi Jadhav. It is being produced by Kartk D Nishandar, Arjun Singgh Baran and Afeefa Nadiadwala Sayed.
Sushmita Sen, who suffered a heart attack earlier this year, gave fans an update on her health during a live session on Instagram recently. Replying to a fan, Sushmita said, “My health is fabulous… I have been eating well.” Apart from Taali, Sushmita will be seen in the third season of Aarya, which will stream on Disney Plus Hotstar.