Aashiesh Sharrma on intimate scenes in Khejdi: They were never done for shock value

Aashiesh Sharrma, known for shows like Siya Ke Ram, Chandragupta Maurya and Rangrasiya, is currently seen playing a transgender character in the film Khejdi. According to the actor, the most difficult aspect of portraying the role was maintaining emotional honesty without allowing the performance to slip into exaggeration.

Aashiesh says, “The biggest challenge was finding balance. Physically, there was a transformation, but emotionally and mentally, the effort was to remain truthful and not let the performance become exaggerated or performative. Because I had written the character myself, there came a point where I became scared of my own writing. I kept questioning whether I would be able to do justice to it as an actor. That fear stayed with me for a while, but eventually it pushed me to become more vulnerable and emotionally honest in my performance.”

The film also features intimate scenes, including a same-gender romantic moment in which Aashiesh shares a kiss with his male co-star. For him, those scenes were rooted in emotional authenticity rather than the need to appear bold on screen. He says, “None of those scenes were designed for shock value. They were important because they formed a part of the character’s emotional journey. It was never about doing something bold. It was simply about staying true to the character and her experiences.”

The same-gender romantic track in the film was driven entirely by emotion rather than gender. “The scene was never approached from the perspective of gender. It was about emotion and human connection. If a character is falling in love, that truth needs to come through honestly. Love can be beautiful and brutal at the same time, but it has to feel real. In that moment, it wasn’t Aashiesh reacting; it was Khejdi living her truth. Once you surrender completely to the character, discomfort disappears and you simply exist within that moment,” Aashiesh concludes.