Singer-actor Ila Arun is coming back on screen, and this time, as a transgender. She plays Amma in Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Haddi and says she was the only cis-woman on set among men and transgenders. The film’s trailer had revealed the plot of the revenge drama in which Nawazuddin’s character takes revenge from those who killed Amma. And Ila confirmed she couldn’t identify Nawazuddin for a moment when she first saw him in the getup of a woman. Also read: Ivanka Das reveals she had ‘very bad experience’ with trans actors during Haddi shoot.Haddi 2023 Movie Download
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Ila shared her experience of working with transgenders for Haddi and how they all welcomed her on set by grooving to her hit songs. She also talked about feeling conscious around them in the beginning before eventually becoming their Amma. Excerpts:Tell us about your character Amma in Haddi.
Amma is very close to Nawazuddin’s character. She has given him strength and he cares for her and that’s why he goes on to avenge her death. Each group of transgenders has an Amma, who is also a transgender. I’m the only woman in the film. Others are either males or transgenders or there are people who have changed their sex. Amma is like a Durga…she is emotional and she’s very powerful.It was a happy experience. I was a bit conscious on the first day because I didn’t know how to behave. Sometimes these people were very loud, sometimes they were very emotional. But then they became part of me. As I entered the set, they danced to my song Resham Ka Rumal. The first thing they told me is how they sing my songs whether it’s an occasion like Holi, marriage or childbirth. They knew 5 songs. They made me so comfortable and all my scenes were with them. I had to be comfortable because they are part of my gang or my family in the film.