New Delhi, Sep 05: The credits rolled, and the room didn’t move. STAGE, India’s entertainment platform in regional cultures, hosted a special screening of the internationally acclaimed Rajasthani film Khejdi at the BMVK Auditorium in Greater Kailash, New Delhi, and what unfolded left the room shaken. Also in attendance were Bollywood actor Vineet Kumar, known for Shool, Masaan, Maharani and Bhola, and STAGE Co-founders Vinay Singhal, Parveen Singhal and Shashank Vaishnav.
For Ramkali of Basera Samajik Sansthan, the screening was more than just a cinematic experience, it was a moment that resonated deeply with lived realities of identity, dignity and acceptance. Joined by several members of the transgender community, Ramkali brought a powerful lived perspective to the evening. As the final frame faded, a profound silence settled over the auditorium, with the Chief Guest, Special Guest, Vineet Kumar and Ramkali visibly moved by the performance. The moment captured the emotional power of a story that went beyond the screen, leaving the audience reflecting on empathy, inclusion and human dignity.
The evening opened with a red-carpet reception and media interactions. Khejdi felt like a confrontation, with identity, prejudice and a society’s refusal to look inward. It concluded with the film’s cast, creators and STAGE leadership discussing why offbeat stories must find space beyond mainstream entertainment.
Inspired by Kiran Singh’s short story Sanjha, Khejdi follows a transgender person hidden from the world by her father to shield her from social prejudice. Her discovery of her identity forces her to confront a world unwilling to grant her acceptance, love and dignity.
Rather than viewing transgender identity from the outside, the film centres its protagonist’s experience, showing how secrecy, conditioning and discrimination shape her life. By its final act, Khejdi stops being a story on screen. It becomes a mirror held up to the audience.
Directed by Rohit Dwivedi, Khejdi stars Aashiesh Sharma, best known for Siya Ke Ram, in a performance that left even seasoned actors stunned. The film has won 12 international awards, several recognising Sharma’s performance. Veteran actor Vineet Kumar said,
“Aashiesh’s performance reminded me why we do this work, to give voice and dignity to stories rarely seen on screen.”
Vinay Singhal, Co-founder and CEO, STAGE, said,
“Tonight, Khejdi asked the room a question it couldn’t look away from. Watching leaders who shape policy sit in that silence after the climax showed why Bharat’s powerful stories must move beyond the mainstream gaze.”
Parveen Singhal, Co-founder, STAGE, added,
“Khejdi is not a film about the margins; it asks the mainstream to widen its definition of dignity, and tonight, it did exactly that.”
The screening reflects STAGE’s commitment to stories mainstream entertainment has long left out. Khejdi joins Saanwari, about a woman sold into marriage who turns out to be transgender, and Naate and Saankal, which portray women and girls fighting child marriage and forced traditions. Together, they give visibility to stories rooted in Bharat.