Trans model, actor Rimal Ali attacked, harassed in Lahore

Rimal Ali, Pakistan’s transgender model and professional dancer was recently attacked and harassed in Lahore.

After becoming subject to abuse, her hair was chopped off with the remains being shaved, reported Express News. Ali has accused a resident of Attock, Jahanzeb Khan, of this vile conduct.

“I am being oppressed daily so I can be prevented from working in the showbiz. My life is in danger, so if anything happens to me, Jahanzeb should be held accountable,” she said.

Ali made her film debut in 2018 with Saat Din Mohabbat In. Being a skilled dancer and a prominent figure in Pakistan's transgender community, Ali first featured in a 2017 music video of Soch the band's Dhola. In 7DMI, Ali can be seen performing an item number called Saudai Saiyan.

Speaking to Variety in 2018 about her role in 7DMI, Ali had said, "The first thing I wanted to be sure of when the role was offered to me was whether it makes a mockery of our community, which happens often in Bollywood and Lollywood films."

But she was thrilled at how wonderfully the story featured a transgender character. "Directors of the film, Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi made sure to not victimise the character either, which is another trap that films often fall into," added Ali.

After years of being subjected to discrimination, Pakistan's transgender community is slowly making its way to mainstream media. But even then they are threatened and oppressed daily so that they can be prevented from progressing.

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