O Womaniyaa: Male actors and their female avatars

We live in a TV era where the male actors get very few opportunities to portray roles that are meaty enough and challenging. Of course, it is the fairer sex that usually takes away the best of roles, and the limelight.

But what about the talented men who have stood their ground and have taken away all the appreciation from critics and well as viewers with their cross-dressed avatar?

Well, it is not easy for a man to get into the shoes of a woman, and display the characteristics of a lady, being dressed up as one… Here Tellychakkar.com is bringing out a compilation of such men who have entertained the masses with their ‘womanly’ looks…

Ali Asgar, Kiku Sharda and Sunil Grover in Comedy Nights with Kapil

Undoubtedly Comedy Nights with Kapil (Colors) is one of the most popular programs of Indian television. Apart from the antics of Kapil Sharma or the vast celebrity presence, what has clicked excellently with the audience are the roles of Gutthi, Palak and Dadi. These roles of women are enacted by none other than Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda and Ali Asgar. These three men cross-dressed as women, have made the audience laugh with their style, sheer screen presence and attitude. Though Sunil Grover moved out of the show owing to differences, reports of him coming back have already made headlines. Three cheers to the three ‘ladies’!!

Vishwajeet Pradhan in Ek Boond Ishq

Talented actor Vishwajeet Pradhan is not new to playing negative roles. However his latest offering is quite challenging both physically and mentally; yet this man is able to carry them with grace. Having portrayed the role of Kalavati on Life OK's Ek Boond Ishq, basically a woman trapped in a man’s body, the character has been an epitome of evilness and cunningness. While he is the eunuch Kalavati on one hand, he plays the role of the dignified Thakur Rudra Pratap Singh with the same gusto. Job well done, Vishwajeet.

Shaheer Sheikh in Mahabharat

A person’s pride knows no boundaries, especially if you are one of the greatest archers of all time. Dhanurdari Arjun of Mahabharat had to be a eunuch during the last year of Pandavas’ exile. And our handsome Shaheer Sheikh carried off the character named Brihannala perfectly, by cross-dressing as a woman in the Star Plus’ magnum opus show Mahabharat. He walked, talked, covered the face and shied away like a woman. And when he danced, the actor was successful in bringing out the ferocity of a female who has faced injustice.

Gaurav Khanna in Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam

Gaurav Khanna cross-dressed as an NRI girl in Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam. Gaurav played the role of Abeer, who belonged to a very conservative family. His cousin was getting engaged to his friend who was from another caste. On the day before his cousin’s marriage, Abeer and his friends set up a play where they showcased the love story of his cousin.

Rajesh Khera in Uttaran

The terrific actor in a recent interview given to Tellychakkar.com said that he has the ‘jigra’ to play any kind of role. It is true of course, for this gifted artist is currently seen playing the role of the nasty and cruel transgender Maharani in Colors’ Uttaran. This role is similar to the one he did previously in Aasman Se Aage. And we must say, he is doing a fabulous job and collecting great reviews.

Vishal Gandhi, Gautam Gulati, Yash Gera, Aanshuman Singh in Pyaar Ki Ek Yeh Kahaani

What do you do when you are a boy and the girls in your college are planning a pyjama party in the girls’ hostel and it is attended by your crush? You sneak in dressed up as aunties. This is what Kabir aka Vishal Gandhi, Shaurya aka Gautam Gulati, Shankar aka Yash Gera, Angad aka Aanshuman Singh did in Star One’s famous serial Pyaar Ki Ek Yeh Kahaani.

Gaurav Gera in Mrs Pammi Pyarelal

Taking the typical old formula to the small screen, Gaurav Gera played with charm while cross dressing as the beautiful Pammi Pyarelal, wife of his best friend Rahul Pyarelal. Indeed, a big risk taken by the splendid actor Gera to showcase his great acting potential!! Though the show was taken off-air very soon, the actor took home all the applause for experimenting something out of the block.

Rajeev Kumar in Main Kab Saas Banoongi

The methodical actor Rajeev Kumar cross-dressed as a woman and kept his fast in Main Kab Saas Banoongi aired on SAB TV.

Kunal Karan Kapoor in Left Right Left

The charming Yudi aka Kunal Karan Kapoor was seen sporting a pretty party dress and short blonde shiny hair. We are talking about his cute, sexy and sophisticated role of Madonna in the popular youth show Left Right Left. Not only did he cross-dress, but he also dated the hot Arjun Bijlani on their fresher’s day.

Pankaj Singh Tiwari in Shree

The adorable and bubbly Pankaj Singh Tiwari gained his share of limelight when he cross-dressed for a particular scene in the supernatural thriller, Shree.

Shabbir Ahluwalia in Kahin to Hoga

While wandering through the college corridors, have you ever come across a lady called Miss Briganza. Then fear not, as she is none other than the hot Shabbir Ahluwalia cross-dressing as big busted old woman, out there to create mischief in the popular show Kahiin Toh Hoga.

Dheeraj Dhoopar and Manish Raisinghani in Sasural Simar Ka

The Bharadwaj parivar of Colors TV is currently facing problems from a political adversary Jwala Devi. So inorder to search for proofs against Jwala Devi, Roli and Simar along with their husbands Siddhant and Prem wore the same dresses and sneaked into the house. When the ladies searched the house, the men distracted the guards by dancing to the tunes of Chikni Chameli.

Mohit Sehgal in Qubool Hai

The hot and dashing Mohit Sehgal donned a feminine avatar in Zee TV’s popular serial Qubool Hai. He with his cute smile batted the long eyelashes as the protagonist Zoya’s friend from Hyderabad.

Satish Shah in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai

The classic cult show Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai amused the audience at so many junctures. The show left no stone unturned in portraying some slapstick comedy and making the audience laugh. In one of the episodes, the talented actor Satish Shah played his onscreen wife Maya Sarabhai because he was hypnotized to do so by a psychiatrist whom he had insulted earlier. You could see Satish walking around like a sophisticated high class woman.

Ujjwal Chopra in Gulaal

Gulaal, a beautiful story set along the magical land of Rajasthan had a super talented star cast. One of them was Ujjwal Chopra who essayed the role of a transgender. He played a character with whom the lead character’s marriage had been fixed, but marriage was called off after his identity got revealed. In later scenes, he was seen doing pooja in Devi’s temple dressed as a woman.

Gautam Rode and Varun Kapoor in Saraswatichandra

Saraswatichandra tells the magical love story of Saras and Kumud. After a lot of hits and misses they finally decided to get married. At the same time, Saras’s brother Danny was also getting married to Kumud’s sister Kusum. In the Haldi ceremony, our ‘beautiful’ heroes sneaked into the brides’ house, in disguise, and applied turmeric on Kumud and Kusum.

Three cheers to all the men who turned into ‘gorgeous ladies’ to entertain viewers!!