From her breakout performance in Made in Heaven to becoming a fierce voice for trans representation, Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju is not just acting — she’s making space. In a candid and compelling conversation with Mathrubhumi English, Trinetra opens up ahead of the release of her much-anticipated OTT series ‘Kankhajura’, set to premiere on May 30 on Sony LIV.

Directed by Chandan Arora and starring Roshan Mathew and Mohit Raina in lead roles, the series marks a significant moment in Trinetra’s acting journey. In this exclusive interview, she delves into her character in the show, her on-screen chemistry with Roshan, and the broader landscape of trans representation in Indian cinema, especially in Bollywood.

Unapologetically honest, Trinetra makes a powerful case for inclusivity in casting, as she said, “If cis actors can play trans roles, then trans actors like me should also play a cis woman’s part.” Read excerpts from her interview:

Q. 'Kankhajura' delves into complex themes within a crime drama setting. Can you share insights about your character and what drew you to this role?

Trinetra: Amy is nothing like I have seen before in a trans character or in trans representation, ever before. That uniqueness is definitely the first thing that drew me towards it. But more than that, Amy is nothing like who I am in real life. Neither is she polished, nor does she look like me, nor does she talk like me… she is just a completely different personality. There is a certain complexity to her, certain layers to her, that we don’t get to see in trans representation very often. We are reduced or sidelined to something which is either comedic or something that doesn’t have any depth. But Amy, through the whole season, we see that she has toughness but also vulnerability. She is dealing with what it’s like to be born and raised in a small town while at the same time dealing with an abusive relationship, having a soft corner for a man who is actually a mastermind manipulator, and is navigating a crime by using her. These are all aspects and psychology that I found fascinating in a character. I just wanted to play all of that, and that’s what got me drawn to it.

Q. Collaborating with director Chandan Arora and co-stars like Mohit Raina and Roshan Mathew must have been enriching. How did these dynamics influence your performance in the series?

Trintera: Roshan is someone that, honestly, I have looked up to and have been a fan of for a long time. He is one of the reasons why I said yes to the project. His Malayalam work is something that I have been really inspired by. I watched him first in a movie called ‘Moothon’, which I greatly enjoyed, and I have watched him in many other films, and also his Hindi works. I really found his performances very compelling. I’m someone who really likes to surround myself with actors that I admire and people who know much more than I, because I learn a lot from that process. He is one of the reasons why I said yes. Apart from that, he is a wonderful co-actor; he gives you so much to work with. He is so generous as an actor, it makes your job so much easier on the sets. As a person, he is so much fun to be around. We both come from STEM backgrounds; I come from medicine, and he comes from engineering, so we used to talk a lot about that. He is a fun person overall, so that was wonderful.

Chandan was wonderful in bringing a certain energy to the set and being passionate about this project. Even the cinematographer, Rajiv Ravi, is one of the stalwarts of the Industry, and has done an excellent job. I was very fortunate to have been lensed and videographed by him. It is a rare privilege for an actor.

Q. ‘Kankhajura’ marks a shift from the intimate, polished world of ‘Made in Heaven’ to a darker, perhaps more chaotic terrain. What excited or scared you most about this pivot in genre?

Trintra: It was exactly this difference between the genres that got me excited. With my personal journey and my transition getting over, something that happens is that you become comfortable in your skin, and that gives you certain freedom to explore and to do all kinds of things you have never done before. It is exactly what reflects on my professional life as well. I did not want my second acting project to be exactly like my first role. I did not want to be typecast into the same kind of transwoman role. I have no problems with playing trans characters only for the rest of my life. I’m happy to play it, but they need to be diverse, they need to be nuanced, they need to be layered… something that I can grow from and something to dig my teeth into, and puts me in an unfamiliar space. It (Amy’s role) is exactly this, and I was scared because I had no idea about what it feels like to exist in a reality where the partner is abusive and to be manipulated by somebody to such an extent. These are all realities that I did not have to deal with in my life, so to step into those spaces as an actor is very, very fulfilling, but also very scary, of course. I’m just happy that I was surrounded by an exceptional team and talented co-actors. Also, my acting coach, Pooja Swaroop, who is an amazing actor herself, helped me create this character. For every acting project that I take up, there is always this kind of prep that goes into it. Here, the team didn’t recommend it, but I wanted to prep for the character myself, which is why I reached out to Pooja and made sure that this works. It was really wonderful to be a part of that experience.

Q. Crime dramas often rely on archetypes—the insider, the outsider, the suspect. Where does your character in ‘Kankhajura’ fall within this dynamic ecosystem?

Trinetra: I feel like what is so beautiful about this world is that there are no exact labels. You can’t label one individual as a hero or one individual a villain, suspect, insider, or outsider. It’s a little more complex than that. If you look at it from the outside, you see that Ashu (Roshan’s character) was always an outsider, but you see how he is smarter than everyone else, so people don’t realize what he is. Max and Amy might be insiders, but with Amy on the outside of what’s happening with Ashu at the level of manipulation that is happening there, it’s really fascinating to see how it plays out. Not just that, what I really enjoyed is the slight bit of innocence between Ashu and Amy that you don’t see in other equations in the show. It’s actually pretty dark with Ashu and everybody else, but with Ashu and Amy, there is a little bit of innocence and a little bit of joy in that relationship that they have. It was so nice to play, and I’m sure it will be wonderful to watch as well.

Q. Can you share a moment from the set—a scene, a rehearsal, or even a pause—that felt like a turning point in understanding your character?

Trinetra: There is a moment where Amy is speaking to the lady inspector, played by Heeba Shah, where she comes to Amy and tells her that you have no idea who you are dealing with. She says that this man is dangerous, manipulative, and has been using you this entire time. It was then that Amy had this light bulb moment where she is like ‘OMG, how was I so stupid? How did I not see this?’ I really, really, really felt that moment in my bones because I think every woman has been through that at some point in life, where we have said to ourselves, 'How can I be so stupid?' I really felt that, and I think that was the moment that we shot on the first day itself. That is when I felt like this is Amy, and she is inside me now.

Q. Kankhajura translates to ‘centipede’—an eerie, lingering image. Is there a metaphorical or emotional thread in your character that mirrors that sense of slow, creeping tension?

Trinetra: It’s a feeling that Amy has when it comes to her partner. He is abusive, and she has made her peace with it. But with Ashu, she really expects better from him and believes he is a good person, and really wants this one person in her life to be a good person. There is something very shattering about this slow realization that she has had through the season that something is wrong and something is truly a miss in this relationship. He is doing something that is not right. I feel like even if Amy is not doing the creepy bit, she is at the receiving end of it, which is even worse. She now has to deal with the devastation of a second lover, the good guy who is now what she thought him to be.

Q. In previous discussions, you've highlighted the challenges trans actors face when cisgender individuals portray trans roles. How do you envision the future of casting in Bollywood to better reflect authentic experiences?

Trinetra: I really believe, as an actor, that you should be able to play diverse roles. The argument has always been that cis actors can play or should play trans actors because why should we be limited by gender? But I think that argument applies both ways; if cis actors can play trans roles, then a trans actor like me should also play a cis woman’s part. Very recently, for the first time in my life, I auditioned for a cis woman’s part, and it was an amazing experience for me. It showed me that the casting directors and the filmmakers are changing, and they are imagining actors like me in those parts. It’s a great feeling to have. Whether it works out or not, I don’t know, but I think that the future is diverse. I think the future is us realising that trans people are beyond just representation, and that we have something legitimate to bring to the table. There is a unique flavour, a unique voice, intelligence, and beauty that we bring to the table. That is beyond the token of representation. It is a matter of art and craft, and being a part of the industry that is about entertainment. So, that’s what the future looks like - optimistic.

Q. Reflecting on your journey, how has the landscape of opportunities for transgender actors in Indian cinema changed since your debut, and what further progress would you like to see?

Trinetra: My debut was not that long ago - it was in 2023. I would say that it is too short a period of time for me to confidently say that there is a significant change in that one and one-and-a-half years. But I will say that I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to a lot more filmmakers than I did in the past, who I believe are pro-representation and passionate about diverse storytelling. Whether it is Kirron Rao who has done a ‘Laapata Ladies’ which did so well internationally and on OTT as well, or Vikramaditya Motwane who did amazing work with ‘Back Warrent’ recently - these are all unconventional stories. These are people whom I really want to work with. I think our people in the industry who are committed to seeing change, but unfortunately, the industry is not just those four to five people. That kind of change is very slow, and it takes a long period of time. Each one of these projects, like ‘Made In Heaven’, ‘Rainbow Rishta’, or ‘Kankhajura’, is a stepping stone for us to make more and create more.

Q. If you could rewrite a famous scene or a character in Indian cinema through the gaze of a trans woman—what would it be, and how would it shift the emotional arc?

Trinetra: I would love to see a ‘Jab We Met’ with a trans protagonist. I would like to see Geet, but a Geet who is also trans. People have this idea of trans people being sad and broken. All of that is true; it is a part of our reality, but I feel like there is a part of us that is also bubbly and a little bit crazy. I would like to see trans characters that have this side to them as well, which is not so dark, not so much turmoil, but perhaps more lighthearted and sweeter. May be a comedy someday… who knows? That’s something that I would love to do.

Q. You’ve said before that queer characters are often written with pity or pain. If you were to write your own script, what mood or tone would dominate its world?

Trintera: It would be a mix of everything. I would say there will be density, romance, and humour here and there. I do believe that it’s possible to have a mix of these genres. One of my favourite shows is ‘Fleabag’. I love it because it’s so funny and so dark at the same time. Ilove when those who genres come together. I would love to see it involve a trans person.