Trans woman's sacrifice helps brother realise musical dream
Born into a financially weak family in Venkatesapuram, Kayal (40) was the second oldest among the six siblings. Having lost her father at a young age, the siblings' responsibility fell on their mother, C Jothi (55), who worked as an agricultural labourer to make ends meet.
In 2010, fearing social stigma and thinking that her gender identity might affect the marriage prospects of her siblings, Kayal left home without informing the family. After several unsuccessful efforts to trace her, the family assumed she went abroad for work. In 2014, after learning that the family was struggling to make ends meet and that Arun had stopped going to school after Class 10, Kayal decided to help them, but from a distance.
Kayal, who works as a daily wager at a vegetable market in Chennai, sent money to fund Arun's studies, allowing him to complete a diploma in mechanical engineering. Arun later moved to Chennai and worked at a private company. Kayal also provided financial support for her five sisters' marriage. Fearing societal backlash, she chose not to attend the weddings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
This actress known for her glamorous role, was murdered at 24, her body was discovered after..., her name was...
Before the age of 25, she had everything — beauty, fame, talent, and over 30 films to her name. Rani Padmini, a celebrated Tamil and Malayalam actress, was more than just a starlet. A trained Bharatanatyam dancer with a powerful screen presence, she was once touted as the next big name in Southern cinema. Born in 1962 in Kerala, Rani fulfilled the dream her mother, Indira Kumari, once had — to be a film actress. In the early '80s, she stormed the silver screen, sharing frames with top actors and delivering back-to-back hits. Living the dream… Until it became a nightmare By her early 20s, Rani Padmini was living a life many could only imagine. She drove a Nissan, lived in a posh rented bungalow in Chennai's Anna Nagar, and was on the verge of purchasing it. She was also among the highest-paid young actresses of the time. She and her mother were brutally murdered — not by strangers, but by their own three house staff members, all of whom had criminal records. The killers stabbed Rani 12 times and her mother 14 times. Their bodies lay undiscovered in the bathroom for four days. When stardom meets vulnerability The news sent shockwaves across the country. How could someone so young, so powerful in the public eye, fall prey to such horror in her own home? Her death became a tragic reminder that fame can't always protect you. In a pre-CCTV era, her murder case exposed the dangers of blind trust and the price women in power often pay. Though her career was brief, Rani Padmini remains etched in the minds of cinephiles — not just for her performances, but for the devastating way her story ended. A haunting legacy of what could've been — and what was cut short far too soon.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
She went to Oxford, starred in Bridgerton, and just stole the spotlight at Wimbledon: Who is British-Indian actor Charithra Chandran?
The Oxford Brain with a Bridgerton Heart — charithrafiles (@charithrafiles) Reclaiming Representation — charithrafiles (@charithrafiles) It wasn't the viral kiss between Hollywood actors Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro that caught everyone's attention at Centre Court this Wimbledon Sunday. Behind the PDA, in a quiet but unmistakably commanding presence, stood Charithra Chandran — effortlessly elegant in Wimbledon whites and Edwina Sharma-inspired curls. While the paparazzi flashes may have missed her at first glance, fans on social media and fashion critics knew exactly who to look in a crisp white button-down layered with a racing green cashmere sweater, buttery lambskin shorts, and sleek Nappa leather pumps, the 28-year-old British-Indian actor turned heads — not with theatrics, but with thoughtful style and quiet confidence. Sharing her look on TikTok, she captioned the moment: 'Edwina inspired hair for Wimbledon today with Ralph Lauren.' That caption alone was enough to stir a flurry of admiration online — cementing what many have already come to believe: Charithra Chandran is not just an actor; she's becoming a cultural icon Born to Tamil doctor parents and raised in Oxford, Charithra Chandran grew up straddling two worlds — the rigor of academic excellence and the emotional pull of performance. 'Since I was born, I've always been a performer,' she told the BBC. From staging childhood singalongs in boarding school to scoring a first-class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford, her story defies binaries. She is as comfortable quoting political theory as she is dancing to Bollywood beats — a rare balance in today's celebrity her natural inclination toward the arts, Chandran was poised for a corporate life, set to join a prestigious consultancy firm after graduation. But something felt incomplete. 'I had this niggling feeling,' she confessed. 'I became introspective about what I wanted to achieve and what I would regret.' That moment of clarity changed pandemic gave her the final push. Watching her parents — both doctors — leave for work daily during COVID's peak, she was reminded of the fragility of time and the urgency of dreams. She began emailing agents every Monday morning at 9:05 AM, a routine born out of both strategy and desperation. Within two months, she had booked her first role in Amazon's Alex Rider. Before she could even wrap filming, she was cast as Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton Season Bridgerton, Chandran played Edwina Sharma — a refined, emotionally complex Indian debutante navigating love, identity, and societal pressure in Regency-era England. But her portrayal did more than just add diversity to the period drama. It gave South Asian viewers across the globe a character who wasn't a caricature, but a woman of depth, vulnerability, and success, however, didn't come with wide-eyed naivety. Chandran has been vocal about the challenges of being a woman of color in an industry still waking up to the nuances of representation. Her choices post-Bridgerton reflect her refusal to be boxed in. She lent her voice to Star Wars: Visions on Disney+, joined the cast of Dune: Prophecy on HBO Max, and will soon lead Christmas Karma — a Bollywood-inspired reimagining of A Christmas Carol, alongside a star-studded cast including Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, and Boy the outside world, Chandran's journey may seem meteoric — a straight line from Oxford to Netflix to red carpets. But she's quick to dismantle that myth. 'I don't think that at all. I think the complete opposite,' she said in a recent interview, reflecting on the uncertainty and inner battles that punctuated her she's in costume as Edwina Sharma or courtside in Ralph Lauren, Charithra Chandran is scripting a new narrative for the modern leading lady — one that's deeply rooted in culture, courage, and self-belief.
Pink Villa
10 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Nagarjuna Akkineni's 100th film is a remake of Sasikumar starrer Ayothi? Here's what we know
Nagarjuna Akkineni is eagerly gearing up for the release of Rajinikanth starrer Coolie, which is slated to hit big screens on August 14, 2025. Now, recent reports indicate that the actor's 100th cinematic venture might be a remake of a hard-hitting Tamil movie. Nagarjuna Akkineni to remake Sasikumar's Ayothi? According to a report by Times Now, Nagarjuna Akkineni is expected to remake the movie Ayothi, which starred Sasikumar in the lead role. The upcoming film is said to be helmed by Nitham Oru Vaanam fame Ra Karthik, marking the veteran star's 100th film. However, as of now, these are just speculations with an official update yet to be made by the makers. About Ayothi Ayothi is a Tamil-language procedural drama flick starring Tourist Family's Sasikumar in the lead. The film narrates the tale of a family who are travelling from Uttar Pradesh to Rameshwaram. On their journey, the family faces an accident and is stranded, unable to speak Tamil. In their predicament, a man decides to help them, leading to an intense drama for the family's return home. With R Manthira Moorthy helming the project, the movie featured an ensemble cast of actors like Yashpal Sharma, Preethi Asrani, Pugazh, Anju Asrani, and many more in key roles. Nagarjuna on Coolie While more details about Nagarjuna Akkineni's 100th film is yet to be made, the actor was seen detailing about Coolie. In a recent interaction, the actor talked about Aamir Khan's character in the film. The King actor said, 'Aamir Khan and I don't have scenes together. We have two different chapters in the film... But I saw his work afterward. His performance is brilliant. You'll see a new Aamir and be shocked.' Moreover, Nagarjuna also confirmed that he will be playing the main antagonist in the Rajinikanth starrer. The upcoming film Coolie is an action entertainer, featuring Rajinikanth in the lead. The movie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, also features Kannada star Upendra Rao in a supporting role, with Aamir Khan playing a cameo appearance. Aside from them, Coolie will have Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Pooja Hegde (dance number), and many more in key roles.
