Santhosh Keezhatoor visits biryani seller Sajana

Sajana Shaji

, the transwoman who was attacked while trying to make a living by selling biryani at Irumpanam, Kochi has been receiving huge support from the film industry and netizens.

After

actor Jayasurya

promising her to provide financial assistance to set up a biryani shop in the city,

Santhosh Keezhatoor

today visited Sajana and spoke for her. While tasting the biriyani that Sajana sells, the actor said, "India is a democratic country and we have the right to live the way we want. It is our freedom to have a life with dignity and respect," he says.

A few days ago, Sajana, who had made news months ago for her lockdown survival efforts through roadside biryani sales, posted a live video on social media. In tears, she explained how a handful of people haven’t been letting her and her co-vendors work of late, how her police complaint on the same fell on deaf ears and the incident reduced her sales.

On Tuesday, Jayasurya announced that he will lend her support in setting up a biryani shop. The actor told us, “Transphobia is inhumane. I will be offering Sajana all the support she needs to open a shop. My only wish is to inaugurate it.”


The actor, who won a State Award in 2018 playing a transwoman in

Njan Marykutty

, said he feels it’s time for him to give back to the transgender community. “Nature has given all of us space to live here. It’s each one’s right to live with dignity and liberty. In the pandemic era, we should embrace life with love for survival. So, it’s important to love and to be loved. Humanity comes first. It’s time we stop all discrimination,” he said.