Nandita Das on Struggles of Independent Cinema

Nandita Das, a famous actor and filmmaker, talked about the difficulties of making independent movies at the Dehradun Literature Festival 2025.

She explained that independent films often struggle to get funding and attention because they focus on telling important stories rather than making money.

Nandita mentioned that mainstream movies, like those from Bollywood and Hollywood, are made to entertain, while independent films aim to challenge and make people think.

She also discussed how ageism, especially against women, is a big problem in the entertainment industry.

Nandita shared that she never planned to be an actor and stumbled into it while working with social causes.

She has worked with many independent filmmakers and believes that the true value of art is judged over time.