Karpaga is the first transgender in India to don the leading role in a mainstream movie. She makes her debut as a heroine in a Tamil film Paal, to be directed by D. Sivakumar.
Many transgenders have played lead roles in short films and documentaries earlier. But, this is the first time a transgender is featured as heroine in a commercial film, director D. Sivakumar said. The film stresses on the need for families to accept transsexuals besides exploring their emotional and physical conflicts.
Director said that he took several months to finalize a heroine. The crew visited Mumbai and Pune before zeroing in on Karpaga, who now lives in Bangalore. Actor Revathi will play the role of Karpaga's mother in the film.
Born a boy in a middle-class family of Erode, Tamil Nadu, Karpaga left his home at the age of 17 and went to Mumbai only to return back as a woman after five years. Her parents were reportedly shattered but later came to terms with reality and accepted her. The debutante has been taking acting lessons and is also training to be a dancer. Karpaga has reportedly been offered the heroine's in a film and the villain's role in another.
