In the glittering world of Indian cinema, few stories stand out like that of Nirmal Pandey. Born on August 10, 1962, in Nainital, Uttarakhand, as Rajkumar Pandey, he transformed into a versatile performer who left an indelible mark. Today, on his death anniversary, we revisit the moment that catapulted him to international fame: winning the Best Actress award at the 1997 Valenciennes Film Festival in France for his role in ‘Daira’.
This wasn’t just any accolade. Pandey became the only male actor in the industry to receive a Best Actress honor, playing a transgender character with such authenticity that it blurred gender lines on the global stage. The film’s unique narrative saw a girl turned boy and a boy turned girl, leading to Pandey and co-star Sonali Kulkarni swapping traditional awards—him as Best Actress, her as Best Actor.
Pandey’s journey began in school plays and Ramleelas in Almora and Nainital. Drawn to acting, he moved to Delhi for the National School of Drama (NSD), mastering theater’s nuances and even directing plays. Post-NSD, London beckoned, where he performed in 125 plays, including classics like ‘Heer-Ranjha’ and ‘Antigone’, captivating foreign audiences.
Back in India, Shekhar Kapur’s ‘Bandit Queen’ marked his film breakthrough as Vikram Mallah, Phoolan Devi’s husband. Offers poured in: ‘Train to Pakistan’, ‘Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin’, ‘Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya’, and more. His chameleon-like ability to inhabit roles defined him.
Television added to his legacy with villainous turns in ‘Hatim’ and ‘Princess Dolly’. A music enthusiast, he launched album ‘Jazba’ in 2002. Yet, life cut short by a heart attack on February 18, 2010, at 47, Pandey remains a symbol of boundary-breaking artistry.