| Ivanka Das | |
| Birth Place: | Kolkata, India |
| Occupation: | Actress, Dancer, Model |
| Television: | Dance Deewane |
Ivanka Das (born as Arandeep Das) is an Indian actress, dancer, choreographer, and model. She is known for her participation in the Indian reality television show Dance Deewane, the films Haddi and Ghoomer, as well as the Netflix series Bombay Begums.
Das was born in Kolkata as a boy, and grew up in a conservative family in Mumbai and Kolkata.[1] [2] Both of her parents died during her childhood.[2] She has said she always identified as female, and experienced gender dysphoria, but after visiting the Iskcon temple of Lord Krishna, understood she is a woman, "and through that spirituality, I got inner power and felt I was reborn."[1]
She moved to Delhi and began working as a choreographer, and also experienced illness and hair loss, ultimately shaving her head.[2] She was then recruited to become a model and moved to Mumbai.[2]
Beginning in 2017, after an invitation from Keshav Suri of the Lalit hospitality chain,[3] Das has worked as a dancer at the Kitty Su club in Chandigarh, and in Kitty Su drag nights nationwide. She also became a popular contestant on Dance Deewane.
In 2019, she was featured on an online cover of Vogue India[4] [5] as part of a celebration of the first anniversary of the Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India decision that decriminalized consensual sexual conduct between adults.[6] She told Vogue India in 2019, "I am a trans woman and a fighter. And I will be a super star someday."[2]
In 2019, she debuted as an actress in the web series Ye Hai #Mandi, in the role of Kareena, a brothel owner.[7] In 2020, she had a supporting role in the Netflix web series Bombay Begums[8] as the character Beauty, a trans woman.[9]
In 2020, she was featured in the MTV Beats Love Duet album song "Khud Ko Hi Paake" with Nikhita Gandhi.[10] [11]
In 2023, Ivanka was featured alongside Abhishek Bacchan, Shabana Azmi and others in the Bollywood film Ghoomer.[12] [13] [14] [15]