Anasuya Sengupta Makes History with Best Actress Win at Cannes Film Festival

In a historic moment for Indian cinema, Anasuya Sengupta has become the first Indian actor to win the Best Actress award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Her exceptional performance in ‘The Shameless,’ a gripping film directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov, captivated audiences and critics, earning widespread acclaim on the international stage.

Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai following her momentous win, Sengupta reflected on the challenging journey that led to her triumph. She remarked, “The journey was meant to be like this, and I was lucky that I got this movie and this team. We did all of this together. Even though I received the award, it’s a significant victory for the team and the country, which is why everyone is so happy. It’s a win for all of us.”

Her co-star, Omara Shetty, who portrays Devika in the film, echoed her sentiments, expressing exhilaration and admiration for Sengupta’s dedication and talent. Shetty shared, “Very exhilarating, exciting, we didn’t think that we will end up going to Cannes. For Anasuya, I knew it from the start that she will get it. When we used to work together, I was a girl who had just entered the project and this whole atmosphere, but she was very focused. She is exceptional.”

Sengupta also emphasized the importance of casting new faces and promoting diversity in the film industry. She stated, “It’s a very important initiative and essential for the advancement of the industry because every type of film has its place; a complete industry isn’t built from just one type of cinema. So, we need visionaries to have that kind of belief and conviction because the more diversity there is in the film industry, the richer it becomes.”

Reflecting on her character in ‘The Shameless,’ Sengupta shared profound insights, saying, “To fight for freedom, to hope, to love and more than this film being about a sex worker, this is all about love and hope.”

‘The Shameless,’ a 2024 Indian film directed and written by Konstantin Bojanov, made waves at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it competed in the Un Certain Regard section. Bojanov’s dedication to the project, despite the language barrier, was particularly noteworthy. Sengupta praised the director’s commitment, stating, “The director has been trying to make this film for over 12 years. This is a Hindi film, and the director is Bulgarian. He doesn’t know Hindi, but for us as actors and artists, that was a beautiful lesson and process to witness. He had to come on board with a high degree of trust.”

“He gave us that trust to see which dialogue is feeling and sounding right. It built a good collaboration of building something together from the beginning and that was very very good to watch. He knows the story so well that not knowing the language didn’t even matter.”

The Cannes Film Festival, presided over by jury president Greta Gerwig and featuring esteemed members such as Lily Gladstone and Kore-eda Hirokazu, showcased a diverse array of cinematic talents from around the world. For India, this year’s festival marked a moment of unparalleled achievement and recognition on the global stage.

As the curtains closed on the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Indian cinema stood tall, celebrating a triumph of diversity, talent, and creativity.