Trans dancer Krishna Mohini performs in Mumbai locals’ ladies compartments dressed in Lucknowi kurtas and complete Bharatnatyam attire
The guiding principle for her performance is her now-viral statement: “Main bheek maangke nahi kamaungi, mein apni kala dikhaungi [I will not earn by begging, I will show my art]”
The Mumbai local train is rarely a space that could turn into a stage. It is a chaotic carriage that sways through the city. Yet, when Krishna Mohini steps into a ladies’ compartment on the Western line, you can expect performance art. The rhythm of the tracks meets her ghungroos, and a performance begins that demands respect. This is not the kind of begging often associated with the Hijra community; this is an artiste using a public space as her stage.
The guiding principle for her performance is her now-viral statement: “Main bheek maangke nahi kamaungi, mein apni kala dikhaungi [I will not earn by begging, I will show my art].” Krishna Mohini’s story begins in Delhi. At the age of seven, she was abandoned by her father. She recalls the memory of a twin brother and the painful suspicion that her gender identity was the cause of her displacement. “I think they saw one kid was normal, one was abnormal,” she says, “Perhaps they considered me abnormal and left me on the road.”
With no family or home, her survival was a constant, humiliating scramble. She was often forced to beg or engage in prostitution and other desperate acts to eat. It was an existence she fiercely resented. “I never liked the idea of begging for money. It always felt embarrassing to go up to someone and ask for money, I couldn’t do it,” she says. But even in the deepest despair, her instinct for performance was present. “The desire to dance was there since childhood. Even when I lived on the streets, I used to dance,” she recalls.
Krishna Mohini has turned the moving carriage into a stage. Her daily commute and performance route runs through the ladies’ compartments from Borivli down to Churchgate and back to Virar. This route is a conscious choice, reflecting her commitment to dignity. She deliberately avoids the general coaches to prevent her performance from being mistaken for something else, and hints that she doesn’t easily trust men due to her past.
Her commitment to her art is visible in her attire. She does not adhere to a single style. One day, she might appear in an elegant Lucknowi kurta, tying her dupatta over her head for a graceful movement. Another day, commuters might spot her vibrant Kutchi-style ghaghra choli, reflecting the colours of Gujarat. At times, she performs in a crisp, pleated Bharatnatyam attire, channelling classical discipline despite the rocking train.
The act itself is highly dangerous. Dancing on a running, swaying train requires intense focus, balance, and risk assessment. “It’s a huge risk. You hold onto the handles when you have to stand, but I dance,” she says, adding that she choreographs her moves, keeping the space and the train’s movement in mind. Every rupee she earns is paid for by the hard labour of performing on a surface designed for commuting, not for art.
Krishna Mohini never had a teacher or attended a formal school. “I would watch Sridevi, Hema Malini, and Madhuri Dixit… I would watch them and perform,” she explains, convinced her ability is a gift from God.
This innate talent became her anchor when she faced a profound crisis point. After enduring significant trauma, she decided to end her life. It was at this moment of absolute despair that she made her final, uncompromising choice. Her art would become her single source of income and her struggle, a blueprint for others. She now dreams of starting a dance academy someday that could help those looking to earn through their art.
The dedication has paid off, not just in income, but in respect. When she performs, commuters rush forward, offering contributions for the quality of her dance. The local train community has gifted her the name Mohini, a title she cherishes above all. “One of the daily commuters also helped me set up my Facebook and Instagram accounts. They have educated me on how to use social media and told me that this could be another source of income. They also help me out by shooting my videos and taking photographs so that I have content to post,” she says.
Krishna Mohini hopes that her performance inspires her peers. She asserts that she is probably the first in India to publicly draw this line: “I am the first transgender person in India who said, ‘I will not beg by clapping, I will earn by showing my art.’”
Her goal is clear: her life must serve as living proof that hard work and dignity can ultimately force society to give her the respect she deserves. And adds, “I still have a lot to do. I want to learn dance formally, and study as well. I never got these opportunities growing up, but I hope someday I do.”
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
