Bigg Boss Telugu 3’s wild card contestant Tamanna Simhadri: All you need to know about the first transgender contestant in the show

Bigg Boss Telugu season 3 hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni is loaded with surprises. While Hema, one of the most popular contestants of the season, was evicted in the very first week and now, the show welcomed Tamanna Simhadri as the first wild card entrant. Here’s a look at the lesser-known facts of the first wild card contestant of the season.

Born Simhadri Mastan, Tamanna Simhadri is the first transwoman contestant in Bigg Boss Telugu TV series. Though speculations were rife that a transgender contestant would take part in the previous season, it turned true with the ongoing season hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni. She is also the first transwoman to contest in elections in the newly formed State of Andhra Pradesh.

Hailing from Avanigadda, a village in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, Tamanna Simhadri was raised in the city of Vijayawada. She loves her hometown so much that she wants to dedicate the rest of her life in service of the city.

Tamanna was born into a conservative Hindu family. Her father Simhadri Nageswara Rao was a farmer while her mother Nirmala was a homemaker. She has an elder brother with whom she is not on talking terms now. Tamanna’s uncles were politically influential people. However, Tamanna got separated from her family and moved to Mumbai. Tamanna in the later years converted to Islam.

Her gender or separation from family did not deter Tamanna from continuing her studies. Tamanna completed 10th standard at home, pursued PUC (equivalent to Intermediate Education) in Andhra University and later obtained her Bachelor of Computer Applications degree from the Indira Gandhi Open University.

Tamanna was passionate about acting and modeling right from childhood. She tried her luck in acting but soon shifted to Mumbai. With the help of her transgender friend, Tamanna started working with an NGO in Mumbai for the welfare of women and the transgender community. In 2010, Tamanna won her first beauty pageant, Miss Transgender Mumbai. She recently extended her support for Sri Reddy in protest against casting couch in the industry.

Tamanna later shifted to Vijayawada to pursue her political ambitions and even contested in the recent 2019 Legislative Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh from Mangalagiri constituency.

Tamanna was always passionate about acting and ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi is her all-time favourite actor. Sharing a stage and shaking a leg with the Telugu superstar is her biggest dream ever. She also admires actress Rambha while Uday Kiran was her first celebrity crush. Tamanna was apparently approached for some prominent as well as supporting roles in a couple of movies but she couldn’t make it big in the showbiz world. Given a chance, she wants to prove her mettle.

Post-separation with her family, Tamanna battled depression for several years and she even contemplated suicide. But with the able support of her transgender friend, Tamanna could do better in life.

Post-elections, Tamanna perceived Bigg Boss house as an opportunity to get close to the public.

“I will win the hearts of the housemates and the viewers across the Telugu states,” says Tamanna Simhadri before entering the house.

Talking to host Nagarjuna in the weekend episode, Tamanna said has no plan or strategy but will focus on playing according to the situation.