The 'Hijra' eunuch/transvestite community, cultural descendants from the Moghal Empire court eunuchs, earn there living as beggars, dancers, and prostitutes. Mostly homosexual transvestites, some having undergone a crude sex change operation, they live in small communities in the poorer areas of the city of Lahore. They are both feared, for their ability to place curses and ridiculed.

The portraits are taken against copies of backgrounds once used in the popular 19th century Marathi Sangeet Natak Theater where female impersonators were employed as actresses.