Merlin Mandavkar is a trans man born in Kalyan, India. From an early age, he felt estranged from his body and, with courage and determination, embarked on his gender reassignment journey. Throughout this process, the unwavering support of his mother and the acceptance of other family members allowed him to embrace and honor his identity. After undergoing two surgeries, Merlin rebuilt his body through time spent at the gym and now inspires other trans individuals through his posts on Instagram. His grandmother, who lives in rural Ratnagiri, has called him “Raja Bhau” (Raja Bro) since childhood—a nickname that has come to symbolize his acceptance of his true self.
