A look at India at Cannes 2025 so far
| Photo Credit: Getty Images, X/ @SAMTHEBESTEST_, Insagram/ @jacquelienefernandez, Instagram/ @urvashirautela
As the French Riviera basks a brand new selection of film’s from around the world, the 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13–24) is already proving to be another big year for Indian representation. No longer an intermittent presence, India has made its mark this year with a mix of films in competition, fashion-forward appearances, and veteran presences that has been speaking volumes of its growing cultural clout on a stage like Cannes.
Filmmaker and Cannes 2024 icon Payal Kapadia, who made history last year by becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Prix for All We Imagine As Light, returns to Cannes this year as a member of the festival’s main jury.
Among the key highlights is director Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, which is premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, exactly a decade after his debut feature Masaan was screened at Cannes. Backed by Dharma Productions and co-produced by Adar Poonawalla and others, Homebound features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in leading roles. The film has drawn international attention, with veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese joining the project as executive producer.
“I have seen Neeraj’s first film Masaan in 2015, and I loved it,” Scorsese said in a statement. “Neeraj has made a beautifully crafted film that’s a significant contribution to Indian cinema.” French distribution for Homebound has been secured through Ad Vitam, a company known for handling several award-winning international titles.
Cannes will also seen the return of Satyajit Ray’s 1970 classic Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest) in a newly restored 4K version. The screening will be attended by Sharmila Tagore, who starred in the original film. The restoration is part of the festival’s broader effort to spotlight landmark works from world cinema.
In La Cinef, a section dedicated to film school projects, A Doll Made Up of Clay was selected. The short film, by Ethiopian student Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay currently studying in Kolkata, touches on themes of migration and unrealised dreams.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher is in Cannes for the premiere of his new film Tanvi the Great, scheduled for May 17. During his visit, Kher reunited with Robert De Niro, with whom he co-starred in Silver Linings Playbook. De Niro, who received an honorary Palme d’Or this year, was introduced to Shubhangi, the lead actor in Kher’s film.
Indian actors and public figures have also made appearances on the red carpet. Urvashi Rautela attended the opening ceremony and the screening of Patir un jour (Leave One Day), wearing a multicoloured strapless gown and carrying a parrot-shaped crystal clutch that drew significant attention on social media.
Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez represented Indian cinema under the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema initiative. She was one of six global honourees recognised for their work in film. Fernandez expressed her appreciation in a social media post, saying she was “delighted to be an honouree” and to be part of a platform supporting female storytellers.
First-time attendee Nitanshi Goel, who starred in Lapataa Ladies, made her Cannes debut this year. While her red carpet gown attracted notice, it was her second outfit — a lehenga saree paired with a pearl-embellished hairpiece featuring miniature portraits of Indian cinema legends — that received particular attention for its tribute to the history of Indian film.
Alia Bhatt, who was slated to make her Cannes debut as a L’Oréal ambassador, has postponed her trip. According to sources, the decision was made in light of the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Bhatt’s team has not ruled out a visit later in the festival, depending on how the situation develops.
Cannes veteran Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, as well as Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Aditi Rao Hydari, are among the many expected to walk the red carpet.
Published – May 16, 2025 04:23 pm IST