I don't think things will change because of the win

When independent filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light scripted history by winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, it was not just a proud moment for the film's team, but also a triumph for the collective aspirations of women across the country.

- REYA MEHROTRA

Echoing this sentiment, Kani Kusruti, who plays a nurse in the film, tells THE WEEK, “I feel all women in India are part of this victory”. But will the win translate into actual change on the ground for women? Kusruti is doubtful. Still, this has never stopped her from taking up unconventional roles that explore the complexity of being a woman, like the IAS officer Kaveri in Maharani or the divisional forest officer Dina in Poacher. This commitment to the truth extends to her life as well. Whether it was dropping her surname as a protest against social hierarchy or speaking out against injustice during the #MeToo movement, boldness, for her, has never been a choice.

Q/ Tell us about your experience at Cannes. Were you expecting to win?

A/ It was really nice but hectic. It was also strange in the way we had to dress up and follow protocols. But overall, it was a beautiful experience and everybody was really warm. I wasn’t expecting to win, but after the premiere and the following day when we walked the red carpet, [seeing] the way people responded to the film, it felt like we had already won. The film resonated with the people who watched it, so it felt like a different victory. I feel all the women in India are a part of this victory and deserve to share this prize.

Q/ Tell us about the film crew's dance on the red carpet that went viral.