You may know Gauri Sawant from a Vicks campaign (2017)—that documented her struggle as a transgender mother and showcased her sense of family, care, and affection that goes beyond class and gender norms.

On August 15, 2023, "Taali" was released on JioCinema—starring Sushmita Sen in the lead. The actress is playing the role of Shreegauri Sawant—a transgender activist and the trustee of the Sai Savli Foundation Trust—and the biographical drama portrays the struggles Sawant faced during her journey. Before you binge-watch this series, read on to learn more about the person who inspired the creation of Taali.

About Gauri Sawant

Shreegauri Sawant aka Gauri Sawant—is a transgender activist from Mumbai. Gauri is the director and founder of Sakhi Char Chowghi Trust—an NGO established to help those ailing with HIV/AIDS and transgender people. In 2019, Sawant was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the Maharashtra Election Commission. As the goodwill ambassador, her task involved visiting the households of Mumbai-based transgenders, and urging them to enroll their names as eligible voters.

Her Journey: From Ganesh to Gauri

Gauri Sawant was Ganesh Sawant at the time of her birth. Sawant in an interview, revealed that her mother considered aborting her owing to a gap of ten years between her pregnancies. But Sawant’s mother could not go on with the abortion as the doctor claimed that the fetus had evolved and was very strong and could not be destroyed. While growing up, Sawant was also confused about her gender identity.

Watch the trailer of ‘Taali’ here:

Gauri Sawant and Her Adoption Tales

In 2001, Sawant adopted the daughter of a sex worker. Unfortunately, the young child lost her life to HIV. Later, Sawant decided to care for Gayatri, a young girl whose mother was a sex worker and succumbed to AIDS. After her mother’s demise, Gayatri would be trafficked into slavery. To protect Gayatri, Sawant provided the child shelter and food, enrolled her in school, and financed her education.

Her Contribution To The Society As A Social Worker

Sawant founded the Sakhi Char Chowghi Trust in 2001. The NGO provides counseling to transgender individuals and creates awareness about safe sex. She is also the first transgender activist to file a petition to the Indian Supreme Court for the adoption rights of transgender people in 2014. In the NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) case, Sawant filed a petition that urged the Supreme Court of India to identify transgender people as a third gender.

The First Transgender Election Ambassador In India

The Election Commission of India—in 2019—appointed Sawant as an election ambassador from Maharashtra. She was one of the twelve members appointed by the Election Commission and the first member to hold that position from the LGBTQIA+ community. Her motive was to encourage everyone to cast their valuable votes—from housewives to sex workers and transgender citizens.

The Humsafar Trust

In Mumbai, Sawant met a friend — a trans sex worker—who provided her shelter and food for four days after she had relocated. At this time, Sawant was only 16, and the Humsafar Trust was introduced to her. The Humsafar Trust is the oldest LGBTQ+ organization—and this is where her skills helped her land in the communications and outreach team — earning Rs. 1,500 every month. The outreach team’s main focus was to motivate individuals struggling with identity crises, and embrace themselves without fretting about rejection.

Taali, the biographical series, unfurls Sawant’s inspiring story— illustrating how the transgender activist’s effort to raise a young girl did not go in vain—and how she changed society’s notion that identified two genders only — male and female. Sawant continues to be a formidable figure in the trans community of India.