An ode to the
Models wearing the dress and sari in the Azure edit, which explores the colour spectrum of ocean and sky; fashion designer Anita Dongre; and a model displaying the brand’s red bag with hand-painted pichhwai on a vegan fabric base. et to grace the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov’s The Shameless has been making waves for its Indian cast, particularly its two leading women — Omara Shetty and Anasuya Sengupta. As they prepare to represent India at Cannes, both actors express a heady mix of excitement and humility. The lm, primarily set in Kathmandu, follows Anasuya’s Renuka, who escapes from a brothel and takes shelter in a community of sex workers where she crosses paths with Omara’s Devika, a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution.
Excerpts from an interview:
SQuestion: How was it to take a leap of faith with Konstantin? Omara: I immensely believe in K’s (Konstantin) vision. The
rst time I was sent a script, that was it. I wanted to be Devika, whether at Cannes or not.
Anasuya: I just loved the story. I read the character and I thought, “Oh my God, is someone asking me to play this woman?” Something really called me very, very strongly to it.
Q: How do you interpret the lm’s title?
Omara: One day, a production designer for the
lm told me, “You are The Shameless. The one who doesn’t conform to society and wants to live life on her own terms”. What is shame and where does it come from? It’s all just imposed. And it is her (Devika) becoming that, which is why she’s dubbed The Shameless. So I see it as someone who’s decided to break free.
Anasuya: Shame as an emotion is a big block that’s too societally embedded, and
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(Top) Director Konstantin Bojanov with Omara Shetty and Anasuya Sengupta behind the scenes for The Shameless; and (above) Anasuya Sengupta (L) and Omara Shetty (R). it comes up in everyone’s life. And this idea of shame, it’s the fear of that, right? Which doesn’t let you cross over. Once you’ve crossed that, then there’s fearlessness on the other side. I think that’s very be tting for the lm, for the character that I played.
Q:Lastly, how does it feel to be representing India at Cannes? Omara: It’s an immense honour, being recognised for the work you put in. I’m very excited to attend screenings and meet other Indian women who made it to Cannes this year, be it Sahana Goswami, Sandhya Suri or Payal Kapadia.
Anasuya: I once saw a De Niro interview where he says the most important thing to do when great things happen, is to just chill and relax. So I’m trying to keep it together, relax, and take it easy but I’m bursting on the inside.
The Shameless will premiere Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2024. The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 14 to 25, 2024.