Lucknow Kathak dancer Gaurav Sharma changes sex, transforms into a woman, to marry Pakistani boyfriend (With video)

Rizwan proposed to Gaurav in 2012 and offered to change his sex to become a woman. (performance video below)

January 12, 2015, NewsCrunch

Acclaimed Lucknow-based Kathak dancer Gaurav Sharma has changed his gender to marry his Pakistani boyfriend.

He has undergone three sex reassignment surgeries in Mumbai and taken a new name, Aashna.

Gaurav is considered a promising young talent in India classical dance. In 2014, Mail Today described him as a god-gifted Artist, who was full of purity and devotion.

He has also written two books on Sufi poetry, and Indian classical music and dance.
Gaurav met Rizwan on Facebook in 2011 when he was researching for his PhD. They started spending time together, video chatting on Skype, and fell in love.

DNA reports that Rizwan proposed to Gaurav in 2012 and offered to change his sex to become a woman.

Gaurav, who accepted the proposal, was overwhelmed. He told DNA: "I thought this man is willing to give up his identity and personality for me. Why can't I do it for him?"
Mumbai surgeon Dr Mithilesh Mishra, who carried out the sex assignment surgeries, found that Gaurav was completely prepared in his mind to change his gender.

Family and friends, especially sister Mandakini Sharma, a dancer herself, supported him and helped him raise Rs 8 lakh required for the operation.

A report in ABP Live states that Gaurav saw himself as a "normal" man, who had affairs with women and was even preparing to get married when he came across Rizwan.

ABP also identified his new name as Meera.

Gaurav says his relationship with Rizwan is spiritual and not physical. Interestingly, the couple has never met till now and is scheduled to do so only in March.

Watch: A short kathak performance by Gaurav Sharma - does 105 rounds