Popular Bollywood designer, Swapnil Shinde who has worked with some of the biggest names in Bollywood has come out as transwoman. Taking to Instagram, Swapnil revealed changing her name to Saisha. She also shared a couple of her pictures of her transformation. In her note, Saisha opened up on how she has faced a lot of harassment due to her sexuality and it was only in her 20s that she found the courage to accept her truth.
Saisha’s long note read, “Irrespective of your origin, there will always be something that reminds you of your childhood. For me, it takes me back to the kind of loneliness that aches, to pressures that pushed me into solitude and the chaos of confusion that grew every moment. All through school and college, while the boys outside tormented me because I was different, the internal pain was far worse. I felt suffocated living a reality that I knew wasn't mine, yet one that I had to stage everyday because of societal expectations and norms. It was only in my early 20s at NIFT where I found the courage to accept my truth; I truly bloomed.”
She added, “I spent the next few years believing that I was attracted to men because I was gay, but it was only 6 years ago that I finally accepted to myself, and today that I accept to you. I'm not a gay man. I am a Transwoman.” Post the announcement, a number of celebs, including, Sunny Leone, Shruti Haasan showered love and support. Swapnil has worked with a number of A-listers including Deepika Padukone, Sunny Leone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani, Shraddha Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma among others. Swapnil has also designed outfits for Indian delegates for Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.