Nirmal Pandey wins best actress award for his portrayal of transvestite in 'Daayra'

Answering machines can be full of surprises. When actor Nirmal Pandey turned his on recently, a voice informed him that he had just won an award at France's Festival du Film d'Aventures de Valenciennes.For best actress!

To be precise, for his portrayal of a transvestite in Daayra. "It's wonderful because they saw the character and then gave it," says Pandey.

"It's a great compliment." Better still the 'actress' is getting married: to Agzi Muniz, a student at Mumbai's St Xavier's College.

Says a doubly delighted Pandey, "We met at her college where I was performing a play." At least that sets the record straight' for those who were taken in by the gender-blender act.