EXCLUSIVE! Kani Kusruti on Bollywood dreams: ‘If I get a chance, I would like to work with Sriram Raghavan, Vishal Bhardwaj…’ | Not Just Bollywood

Payal Kapadia becomes the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival for ‘All We Imagine As Light’. It was not only a victory for the team, but for women in cinema.

It’s not only about India shining, but women of India shining in cinema at Cannes Film Festival 2024. For a long time, Indian cinema was not given the respect that they deserved at the international platform. And women in Indian cinema were used as ornaments. But not anymore. With women filmmakers offering women lead roles to female craftsmen, the scene has changed for good. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Kani Kusruti of ‘ All We Imagine As Light ’ spoke about cinema changing, wishing to work with more women directors and more.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Tell us about your Cannes outfit, especially the watermelon clutch showing your solidarity to Palestine. What was the thought that went behind it?

I think for me, personally, I actually did not think a lot about my outfit as compared to the others. I am actually not a person who thinks a lot about what to wear for any occasion. In fact, I feel it may tire me down.

I told my designer friend that I have to show solidarity to Palestine. So I asked her to make an embroidery of a Palestine map or a watermelon on my outfit. But she came up with the idea of making a clutch for me.

How was your experience working with Payal Kapadia? And then getting the project, how did you get it, and how was your whole experience?

So, Payal Kpadia, had seen some of my short films long before. And 7-8 years back I remember she called me to do this role of a nurse in her film. She got my number from someone. She called me and said she’s writing a script that is about two female nurses, and they’re from Kerala. And she said she would like me to do the younger part in it, the one Divya Prabha plays in  All We Imagine as Light .

She said she kind of developed that character thinking of me because she’s seen some of my work, and she thought it will really suit me and she will be happy. And I did not know who Payal was then, but the draft that I read at that time was very impressive and I immediately agreed and said that I would love to be a part of it. It took her seven to eight years for her to finally get the funding for the film. So by the time she was able to make it, I was 38 and a half by the end. I was like, I can’t play a 24-year-old now. That was when she wrote my part. Then she asked me if I wanted to audition for it.

Even Divya who played Anu, she auditioned for my part that I have finally played now. And, it was all happening and then Payal called me one more time for a second audition before confirming me. So, she takes time to even confirm an actor. It was a wonderful experience working with Payal. I think she’s one the kindest directors I have ever worked with and extremely inclusive and extremely open minded and receptive and a true collaborator. Working with her personally and professionally is like taking a friend back home.

Tell us about your Cannes experience…

It has not yet sunk-in in me that we had the big win at Cannes. The climate was really nice compared to Kerala, it was really hot at the moment and I was even shooting at that time. And to be able to see such amazing film lovers, especially after our premiere, meeting the actors was an experience of a lifetime. The appreciation that we got was really overwhelming. It was indeed a dream-like experience that I am going to cherish throughout my life.

Any Bollywood dreams that you have?

I have not done any Bollywood film actually, I say, but I have done one Hindi film last year. I will see how I mean, there were many, prominent actors in it. So it’s not a ‘Bollywood-Bollywood’ film as such. Let’s see how things turn out. Otherwise, there are directors in Hindi that I really love to work with like Sriram Raghavan or Kanu Behl, Vishal Bhardwaj, Dibakar Banerjee, I like all of them.  I want to see more female directors in the entertainment industry. Again, my Hindi isn’t great. So I can play only limited roles.