The Padmavati actress feels that Indian films need to be more inclusive of other cultures and their sensibilities.
Mayur Lookhar
Deepika Padukone made her annual visit to the Cannes Film Festival in France this year. However, there was no Indian film competing in the main section. Film And Television Institute of India (FTII) student Payal Kapadia's Afternoon Clouds was the lone Indian film at Cannes, but it was competing in the Cinéfondation category of France's prestigious film festival.
Padukone was asked about the low representation of Indian films at Cannes this year and what India needs to do differently to have a more cinematic presence by film journalist Anupama Chopra.
She said, "I understand that Indian cinema has always stood for something or always had a certain colour and visual content attached to it. But I feel like we need to focus more on our writing. The cultures are so different and we need to start making films, that is if we want people from other parts of the world to start consuming our films. I just feel that the language needs to change. I don't mean the actual language, but the tonalities need to be more inclusive of other cultures and their sensibilities."
Each year at the Cannes Film Festival, Indian divas have sashayed down the red carpet in over-the-top designer wear. While India scores on the red carpet, Indian films have seldom created any ripples at France's prestigious film festival.
Padukone has been a top Bollywood actress, and she got a taste of the West after acting in her maiden Hollywood film xXx: Return Of Xander Cage early this year. Padukone will next be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama Padmavati.
