At the Cinevesture International Film Festival, Nandita Das and Randeep Hooda opened up about their experiences in the film industry, highlighting challenges, personal growth, and societal issues.
Nandita Das: A Reluctant Artist
Nandita Das, known for her impactful roles and direction, discussed her journey from acting in Deepa Mehta’s Fire in 1996 to directing films like Firaaq and Manto. Despite her reluctance to act, she continues to return to the craft when inspired by meaningful stories. She reflected on the difficulty of working in unfamiliar languages, mentioning her recent Telugu film as her last in that context.
Her directorial debut, Firaaq, was born from her response to the violence in Gujarat, and she emphasizes the emotional aftermath of such events. The film is available for free on YouTube, which she encourages audiences to watch. Manto was another challenging project that she felt overwhelmed by but is proud to have completed.
Das also spoke about her latest film, Zwigato, which explores the gig economy during the pandemic and stars comedian Kapil Sharma. Despite initial doubts about casting him, she found the collaboration enjoyable.
Addressing stereotypes in the industry, Nandita highlighted the need for more women in leadership roles, stating, “When women lead a project, it brings a different and significant voice.” She also criticized discrimination based on skin color, sharing a personal story about a girl’s comment that impacted her deeply.
Randeep Hooda: Embracing Self-Love
Randeep Hooda brought a different energy to the festival, sharing humorous anecdotes and insights from his career. He reminisced about his first cinema experience with his grandmother and reflected on his journey from actor to director and producer.
Discussing the challenges of directing, he humorously compared being an actor to being a pampered guest and directing to being a father figure. Hooda candidly talked about missed opportunities in his career, including a regret over letting go of roles in major films like Rang De Basanti.
His dedication to his craft was evident as he recalled his intense preparation for the shelved film Saragarhi, which he described as a significant loss.
Hooda’s next project is an action film that he will write, produce, and direct, expressing his desire to cast himself in the lead role.
Honey Trehan: The Struggle for Expression
Filmmaker Honey Trehan shared his struggles with the release of his film Punjab ’95, detailing the challenges he faced, including title changes and censorship. He emphasized the importance of freedom of expression in cinema and voiced his frustrations with bureaucratic hurdles.
Together, these artists shed light on the complexities of filmmaking, personal growth, and the importance of addressing social issues through their work.
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