Mumbai: 'Love knows no barriers' proved right for this transgender couple. The 46-year-old Aarav Appukuttan, who was once a woman, is all set to marry Sukanyeah Krishna (22), who was once a man.

The duo met in Mumbai who underwent a gender reassignment surgery in the same hospital. Aarav who hails from Kerala says that once he overheard Sukanyeah talking to her family over the phone and came to know that she too hails from Kerala. Later, he started a conversation in Malayalam which led to exchange their mobile numbers. Subsequently the duo chatted and realized that a lot of similarities were there between them. They soon fell in love and decided to take their relationship ahead through marriage.

However, things weren’t easy for both of them in their childhood as they had challenges with gender identity disorder and in disclosing with their respective families. “I used to hate my body and wanted to cut my hair sometimes. But, I had to restrain myself and keep my feelings in check for 45 years. I always behaved like everything was normal,” said Aarav.

Meanwhile, Sukanyeah said she had a tough time in initial years as her family didn’t accept it but later her mother understood and took her to a doctor. The doctor then injected her on male hormone therapy. "My facial and body structure changed. I started developing muscles, my shoulders became broader and I lost a lot of hair on my head,” she said.

Dr Sanjay Pandey, who operated them, said that the people with gender identity disorder are absolutely normal but they find themselves trapped in a body which makes them emotionally and psychologically tough.