EXCLUSIVE Interview! Chhaya Kadam on her Cannes experience & working with Payal Kapadia for 'All We Imagine as Light' | Not Just Bollywood

We all loved Manju Mai in Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan’s Laapataa Ladies. But actress Chhaya Kadam’s journey as a craftsman in the entertainment industry has been really interesting.  Most importantly, a true star is always humble and one who never forgets her roots and she is definitely one of them.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, she talks about her journey, working with Payal Kadam and how going to Cannes with a film and then winning it was like a dream. She did mention that working with with Payal she had to give numerous takes and how with every take she used to take the best out of each and every actor.

Chhaya mentions that all her life as an artist she heard about the Cannes Film Festival , but when her film was chosen, she had doubts whether she would be able to ‘‘fit in’’ or not. But little did she and the entire team of ‘All We Imagine as Light’ know that they will not only stand out, but also shine in the festival. It was indeed an adbhut (wonderful) experience not only for her, but for all of us. All the so called stars go to Cannes to walk on the red carpet, but here Chhaya and the team of ‘All We Imagine as Light’ danced on the red carpet with grace.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

 Firstly, congratulations on the big win. How was your Cannes experience?

 Bhahut Kamaal Ka tha. I never thought that I would ever be able to make it at Cannes. I used to hear a lot about the Cannes Film Festival. Never ever in my wildest dreams did I think that I would visit the place. But I am thankful that because of our film All We Imagine as Light , I went to the festival.

In my entire career, I have never seen a film in such a big theatre. And it was a great pleasure to see my own film with a global audience. Do you know this is the first time I travelled all alone to such a distant place? (laughs)

For years I used to hear about Cannes . But Istna digyaj hoga, yeh Kabhi na socha tha…Ki Oh My God! Initially it was happiness, but there was something that was playing at the back of my mind whether I would be able to fit into the crowd.

You stood out in the festival, in fact the full team of All We Imagine as Light stood out at the Cannes Film Festival. I loved each and every outfit that you wore. It had so much individuality in it.

 Thank you (laughs). It was a brilliant experience of not just going to Cannes , but to take a film and then to win and come back.

 How was your experience working with Payal Kapadia?

 She is extremely talented. When you see her at first glance, you will not be able to make out that she has got so much talent in her and also you will not be able to figure out what is playing at the back of her mind.

When I heard about the story, I was literally stunned to see the amount of research that went behind it. In today’s world you will hardly get to see filmmakers doing so much research for a story, the way Payal has done. There are a lot of things she understands about what’s playing in the minds of each of the characters. Her thought process is intense and deep.

The full team and there were many from FTI, who were involved in the process of making All We Imagine as Light. This was the first time that I had worked in so many details where each and every minute thing was paid attention to.

Indeed, it was a very different experience working with Payal as there used to be many ‘takes’. It used to go up to 20 to 25 takes. In each and every take she used to bring about a different angle.

How did the film All We Imagine as Light come to you? And how did you get to meet Payal?

 Before the project came to me, I think she and her team did a lot of research about the kind of work I do**.** I got a phone call directly from her team. There was no audition.

 Your journey in the entertainment industry has been terrific. What do you have to say about the recognition that you got in the last few years or rather last one year with Laapata Ladies and Madgaon Express ?

 This year is indeed Khaas (special) for me. Before the lock down period, I had done five to six films in a year. But the kind of recognition that Laapataa Ladies gave me was very unique. First the film, then working with Kiran Rao and Aaamir Khan and then Manju Mai, the whole experience was amazing. Manju Mai got so much love that everybody felt that the character was very close to the audiences’ heart.

I got so many loving messages after playing the role of Manju Mai. Then came Madgaon Express, which was a completely different role as Kanchan Kombdi. Some people didn’t even realise that both Manju Mai and Kanchan Kombdi are played by the same actor. And then came this Cannes Film Festival 2024. The audiences loved me as an actor in my country, but when you get the same recognition and love in some other country, my joy knew no bounds. This is what all artists strive for. Bilkul Kamaal wala saal thaa yea (It was a terrific year for me).

For all cinema lovers, it is indeed a terrific year. Women’s roles are changing and All We Imagine as Light is also about women’s friendship? In yesteryear cinema women roles were like ornaments. What do you have to say about this change?

This change was required. And this change was brought about by the craftsmen and cinema lovers like you and me. Women have so much energy and brains that cinemas have not explored it at all. But not anymore. And earlier movies used to show only rivalry amongst women, but that is not the case all the time. Women do lift each other up and that is reality!

We truly need more female directors, because I feel the way they can understand female issues, that no other male directors can.

WATCH the trailer of All We Imagine as Light here: