Transgender actress and Kerala State Film Award winner Negha Shahin has expressed her anger over the ‘Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026’ brought by the central government. She released a video on her Instagram platform opposing the bill and questioned the silence of actors who have gained stardom by playing transgender roles on screen. She especially questioned why actors like Vijay Sethupathi (Super Deluxe), Raghava Lawrence (Kanchana), and Kalidas Jayaram (Paava Kadaigal) are showing our hardships in films and getting awards and recognition, but why are they not responding when laws are being introduced that violate our rights in real life. She expressed her anger that keeping silent means indirectly supporting this injustice.
She strongly criticized the requirement for transgenders to obtain a medical board certificate to prove their identity. She questioned whether any ordinary people face such tests to prove their gender. In the wake of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also asking for a rethink on this bill, she made it clear that she is also participating in this fight on behalf of the DMK party. Negha, who is working for film opportunities for transgenders through a queer casting organization, demanded that film luminaries recognize their social responsibility at least now.
