Had it not been for cinema, I might have been pushed into prostitution

After realising that she was a woman trapped inside a man���s body, Jeeva walked out of her home at the age of 13 and took up odd jobs in Chennai for her survival. Little did she know then that she would be part of the film industry one day, essaying a brief role in Vijay Sethupathi���s Dharmadurai. ���The film gave me rebirth. If not for cinema, I would have been nothing in life.Maybe, I would have been pushed into prostitution by this society,��� begins an emotional Jeeva, who credits her success to director Seenuramasamy. ���I just went as a makeup artiste for the film, but it was he who made me an actor. I want a ���Seenuramasamy��� in all fields, and not just in cinema. Only then transgenders like me can live their life in peace and with dignity,��� says Jeeva.
Recollecting how she grabbed the role, she says, ���I heard someone addressing me as ���Sneha��� on the set when we were shooting in Madurai. I looked around to see Seenu sir addressing me as Sneha. He said that he will call me by that name as I have a smiling face. Later, one of his assistants, Ravi anna informed me that I have a role in the film. Initially, I didn���t believe them and thought they were just joking. I even came back to Chennai as I had some other work here. After a few days, I got a call from the team asking me to come for the shoot. Only then, hopeful again, I left for the shoot.��� So, what was it like to work with Vijay Sethupathi? She says, ���I got really scared to perform in front of a big star like him. I was nervous all day, and wasted the time of the entire unit. But then, Vijay anna called me, and said ���I love you thangachi���. It made me feel so comfortable. Vijay anna took care of me like his own sister. He enquired about my life and I casually responded to his questions. He said that this is what acting is all about��� to be myself.���
Though she left her home and parents at a young age, after the release of this film, Jeeva���s parents are proud of her. ���After watching me in this film, my parents are proud of me. They are talking to me properly and even asked me to come home. I owe a lot to Seenu sir. Even the directors who once abused me called and appreciated me for my performance. Unlike other filmmakers, Seenu sir has shown us in a dignified manner.���
While she���s getting all the praise as an actor now, Jeeva started her career as a server in a tea shop. She says, ���I left my hometown Sivakasi when I realised that I am no more a boy. I came to Chennai and worked as a server in tea shop near Koyembedu. I used to spend my entire day in the bus-stand and sleep inside the bus during night. I, in fact, used to change my clothes in that open space as I didn���t have a home. I have faced a lot of a sexual abuse from people then. There were even times when men used to throw water packets at us. That���s when I decided I will not stay there anymore.��� She adds, ���Later, I worked in Vijaykanth sir���s marriage hall as a cleaner. But we had work only during the marriage season and not on other days. It became difficult for me to manage my daily expenses. When I was sharing this with one of my friends, a guest who had come to attend a marriage function overheard it and offered me a job in a house for a salary of Rs 2000.���
But what���s interesting is that she didn���t confine herself to just housekeeping. Jeeva even managed to learn dance professionally during her free time. ���I found a dance class close to my workplace. I���d always wanted to learn dance and eventually decided to pursue it. I expressed my interest to the manager of that housekeeping company and he agreed saying that I could pursue it during my free time. Later, I even did dance shows and began teaching, too,��� she explains. It was during one of her dance shows that she got an opportunity to assist a TV artiste, Uma. ���I assisted her for quite some time and then worked with VJ Saberna as her assistant. That���s when I came to know about the art of makeup. I was with her for more than two years. She supported me, and I began to get opportunities in films as a makeup artiste. I was first called to the unit of Simbu���s Silambattam to assist the heroines. There were professional makeup artistes from Mumbai and it was they who taught me everything about makeup. I worked with actresses Shriya Saran, Divya Spandana and even Anushka. But these days, it���s become difficult to continue as makeup artiste as I���ve not been able to get a makeup union card, for which I will have to pay a minimum of Rs 2 lakh,��� says Jeeva.
It was then that she decided to test waters in acting. But, she says that she was humiliated by a few directors in Kollywood. ���They insulted me by asking under which category they should cast me in films. One of the tops directors here offended me by saying, ���If you were a girl, I would have cast you for the role of a mother, sister or daughter. If you were a man, I would cast have you as a father or son. I just asked him to cast me as a girl, but he laughed and sent me away.���
But it is not just directors; Jeeva was insulted by doctors, too. ���Even in hospitals, they see us like sex dolls. I was insulted in many ways. I guess this is why many transgenders opt to be sex workers as they face humiliation from almost everyone. They don���t consider us to be humans. We have emotions, too,��� she says.
But now, it looks like Jeeva���s film career is taking off, and she has her hands full in Kollywood. ���I am playing the role of the hero���s friend in Papparapom, and am doing a good role in Aakkam. I have a few more projects lined up for release,��� she says, adding, ���But many filmmakers call me wanting to cast me as a sex worker or in a negative role. I won���t act in films which show transgenders in a bad light.���