The article focuses on how Mahesh Dattani’s play Seven Steps around the fire reflects on Indian mainstream / heterosexual society’s ambivalent strategy to deal with one of its marginalized sections- hijras. The play shows how the mainstream society glorifies the hijras on the one hand endowing them with mythological or historical origin or acknowledging their ritualistic function of blessings giving and despises, marginalizes or subjects them to various forms of tortures or violence on the other hand. Key words: Ambivalence, Indian, Mainstream, Heterosexual, Marginalization, Mahesh Dattani, Victimization, Psychological deterioration, Humane qualities.