Benjamin Daimary, India’s 1st Gay actor wins National Award

Benjamin Daimary has created history. He is India’s First Gay actor to have won a National Award for his debut film. He was awarded the jury special mention at the

Benjamin Daimary has created history. He is India’s First Gay actor to have won a National Award for his debut film.

He was awarded the jury special mention at the 67th National Film Awards. This award came as no surprise, since his portrayal of Jahnu, a transgender, in Prakash Deka’s Assamese film Jonaki Poruwa (Fireflies) was wildly appreciated. The film is based on an LGBTQ theme features Benjamin in the lead role.

This 20-year-old, who is a make-up artist by profession hails from Goreswar, a small town in Baksa district of Assam, is also the first Assamese person from the LGBTQ community to win big.

Benjamin has also been previously honoured with the Best Actor in a leading role at South Asia’s biggest queer film festival—the 11th Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2020.

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