Entertainment Diljit Dosanjh, Barun Sobti, Kani Kusruti and Payal Kapadia were some big winners at the Critics’ Choice Awards 2025.  The awards night took place in Mumbai on Tuesday night and was organized by Film Critics Guild of India.

Diljit Dosanjh, Barun Sobti, Kani Kusruti and Payal Kapadia were some big winners at the Critics’ Choice Awards 2025. Held in Mumbai on Tuesday night and organized by Film Critics Guild of India, the award ceremony had noted lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar interacting with critics in a fireside chat. In this year’s edition of the Critics’ Choice Awards 2025, a new category was introduced- Best Documentary- which honored exceptional feature length documentary films from the past year. The award was given to the film Nocturnes. In the Feature Films segment, All We Imagine As Light won Best Feature Film, recognised for its compelling narrative and artistic excellence, while Payal Kapadia won Best Director. Diljit Dosanjh earned Best Actor for his remarkable performance in Amar Singh Chamkila. Accepting the award, Diljit Dosanjh expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating, “Thank you to the Film Critics Guild for this award, bohot bohot shukriya for considering me worthy of this honour. I dedicate this award to Amar Singh Chamkila and to Imtiaz sir, who brought this beautiful film to life. I just had the chance to be a part of it—it was entirely Imtiaz sir’s hard work. A big thank you to the entire cast and crew of the film.” Also read: This is why Oscar-nominated film Santosh has been blocked from release in India Darshana Rajendran won Best Actress for her gripping role in Paradise. Ravi Kishan’s standout performance in Laapataa Ladies earned him Best Supporting Actor, and Kani Kusruti was awarded Best Supporting Actress for her impactful role in Girls Will Be Girls. In the Web Series category, Poacher emerged as a major winner, securing Best Web Series. Nimisha Sajayan received Best Actress for her role in Poacher, while Barun Sobti won Best Actor for his performance in Raat Jawaan Hai. Also see: Salman Khan announces film with Sanjay Dutt, admits Atlee film is delayed In Short Films, Obur dominated the category, winning Best Short Film along with multiple other accolades. Harish Khanna was named Best Actor for Jal Tu Jalaal Tu, while Jyoti Dogra’s performance in Taak (Tracker) earned her the Best Actress award. Check out full list of winners here: Short Films Nominations Category: Best Short Film IYKYK (If You Know You Know) Jal Tu Jalaal Tu Obur: Winner Taak (Tracker) Virundhu (The Feast) Category: Best Director Bonita Rajpurohit for “IYKYK (If You Know You Know” Prateek Vats for “Jal Tu Jalaal Tu” Faraz Ali “Obur”: Winner Ajai Vishwanath “Starch” Udit Khurana “Taak (Tracker)” Category: Best Actor Kayan Dadyburjor for “Halfway” Kumar Chheda for “Halfway” Harish Khanna for “Jal Tu Jalaal Tu”: Winner Aaqib Nazir Dinda for “Obur” George Vijay for “Virundhu (The Feast)” Category: Best Actress Menuka Pradhan for “Crossing Borders” Sheeba Chaddha for “Night Queen” Indu Sharma for “Riha (Unlocked)” Gayatri Patel Bahl for “Strach” Jyoti Dogra for “Taak (Tracker)”: Winner Category: Best Writing Bonita Rajpurohit for “IYKYK (If You Know You Know)” Vindhya Gupta for “Jooyein (Lice)” Faraz Ali for “Obur”: Winner Akhil Lotlikar, Tanmay Gemini for “The Slow Train” Rishi Chandna, Rahul Srivastava for “Virundhu (The Feast)” Renée Zellweger joins Selena Gomez starrer Only Murders in the Building season 5 Category: Best Cinematography Kartik Parmar for “Bhed Bakri Bhoot (Gote Goat Ghost)” Appu Prabhakar for “Crossing Borders” Avinash Arun Dhaware for “Monsoon Walk” Anand Bansal for “Obur”: Winner Tarkash Mehta for “Taak (Tracker)” Documentary Nominations Against the Tide And, Towards Happy Alleys Nocturnes: Winner Rhythm of a Flower (Phool Ka Channd) The Midwife's Confession Web Series Nominations Category: Best Web Series Brinda Freedom at Midnight Killer Soup Poacher: Winner Raat Jawaan Hai Category: Best Director Surya Manoj Vangala for “Brinda” Nikkhil Advani for “Freedom at Midnight” Abhishek Chaubey for “Killer Soup” Richie Mehta for “Poacher”: Winner Sumeet Vyas for “Raat Jawaan Hai” Category: Best Actor Mihir Godbole for “Lampan” Ravi Kishan for “Maamla Legal Hai” Barun Sobti for “Raat Jawaan Hai“: Winner Kay Kay Menon for “Shekhar Home” Tahir Raj Bhasin for “Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein S2” Category: Best Actress Swastika Mukherjee for “Bijoya” Trisha Krishnan for “Brinda” Konkona Sen Sharma for “Killer Soup” Nimisha Sajayan for “Poacher”: Winner Anjali Anand for “Raat Jawaan Hai” Category: Best Supporting Actor Rajesh Tailang for “Bandish Bandits S2” Rajendra Chawla for “Freedom at Midnight” Rajesh Khattar for “Murder in Mahim” Faisal Malik for “Panchayat S3” Dibyendu Bhattacharya for “Poacher”: Winner Category: Best Supporting Actress Divya Dutta for “Bandish Bandits S2” Nidhi Bisht for “Maamla Legal Hai” Sai Tamhankar for “Manvat Murders” Kani Kusruti for “Poacher”: Winner Priya Bapat for “Raat Jawaan Hai” Category: Best Writing Anand Tiwari, Atmika Didwania, Karan Singh Tyagi for “Bandish Bandits S2” Surya Manoj Vangala, Padmavathi Malladi, Jay Krishna for “Brinda” Abhinandan Gupta, Gundeep Kaur, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Divy Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, Ethan Taylor for “Freedom at Midnight” Richie Mehta, Gopan Chidambaran for “Poacher”: Winner Khyati Anand Puthran for “Raat Jawaan Hai” Feature Films Nomination Category: Best Film All We Imagine As Light: Winner Amar Singh Chamkila Family Girls Will Be Girls Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl) Laapataa Ladies Manjummel Boys Padatik Paradise Rimdoggittanga (Rapture) Category: Best Director Payal Kapadia for “All We Imagine As Light”: Winner Imtiaz Ali for “Amar Singh Chamkila” Shuchi Talati for “Girls Will Be Girls” Chidambaram for “Manjummel Boys” Dominic Sangma for “Rimdoggittanga (Rapture)” Category: Best Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran for “Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)” Diljit Dosanjh for “Amar Singh Chamkila”: Winner Abhishek Bachchan for “I Want To Talk” Soori for “Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl)” Chandan Sen for “Manikbabur Megh (The Cloud and the Man)” Category: Best Actress Kani Kusruti for “All We Imagine As Light” Preeti Panigrahi for “Girls Will Be Girls” Anna Ben for “Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl)” Darshana Rajendran for “Paradise”: Winner Urvashi for “Ullozhukku (Undercurrent)” Category: Best Supporting Actor Anjan Dutt for “Chaalchitra Ekhon” Raghav Juyal for “Kill” Vijayaraghavan for “Kishkindha Kaandam” Ravi Kishan for “Laapataa Ladies”: Winner Mahendra Perera for “Paradise” Category: Best Supporting Actress Divya Prabha for “All We Imagine As Light” Kani Kusruti for “Girls Will Be Girls”: Winner Sai Abhinaya for “Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl)” Chhaya Kadam for “Laapataa Ladies” Parvathy Thiruvothu for “Ullozhukku (Undercurrent)” Also read: Freedom At Midnight attempts to humanise our founding fathers, says writer Abhinandan Gupta Category: Best Writing Anand Ekarshi for “Aattam”: Winner Payal Kapadia for “All We Imagine As Light” Biplab Goswami, Sneha Desai, Divy Nidhi Sharma for “Laapataa Ladies” Chidambaram for “Manjummel Boys” Dominic Sangma for “Rimdoggittanga (Rapture)” Category: Best Cinematography Sunil K. S. for “Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)” Ranabir Das for “All We Imagine As Light”: Winner Rafey Mehmood for “Kill” Shyju Khalid for “Manjummel Boys” Tojo Xavier for “Rimdoggittanga (Rapture)” Category: Best Editing Aarti Bajaj for “Amar Singh Chamkila” Shivkumar V. Panicker for “Kill”: Winner Vivek Harshan for “Manjummel Boys” Srijit Mukherjee for “Padatik” A. Sreekar Prasad for “Paradise” Gender Sensitivity Award: ‘Girls Will Be Girls’

Critics Choice Awards 2025: Diljit Dosanjh, Kani Kusruti win top honours in films, Barun Sobti takes home Best Actor award in series

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s maiden production Girls Will Be Girls continues its journey of international acclaim. The film has secured two prestigious nominations at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards. The film is among the top five contenders for the John Cassavetes Award, which honours the Creative Team of the best films made with a budget under $1 million, earning Richa Chadha, the producer of the film, a nomination nod. Additionally, the film’s lead actor, Kani Kusruti, has been nominated for Best Supporting Performance, marking another milestone for the critically lauded film.

Directed by Shuchi Talati and produced under Richa and Ali’s banner Pushing Buttons Studio, Girls Will Be Girls is an evocative coming-of-age drama that has already won hearts globally, with accolades and recognition at premier festivals beginning with the Sundance Film Festival. Following its successful release in the US, UK&nbsp;and France, the film is now set to release in its home country, India, on December 18, exclusively on Prime Video.

As the prestigious John Cassavetes Award is for the Creative Team, director and producer Richa and Shuchi are both nominated for the award.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/girls-will-be-girls-trailer-out-kani-kusruti-plays-single-mom-in-this-coming-of-age-drama-781399">Girls Will Be Girls trailer: Kani Kusruti, Preeti Panigrahi feature in a heartwarming mother-daughter story</a> 
 
"We couldn’t be prouder of what Girls Will Be Girls has achieved. To be nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which celebrates independent filmmaking at its finest, is truly an honour. And Kani’s nomination is a testament to her incredible talent and the truly incredible year she is having." said Richa in a statement.&nbsp;

Ali Fazal added, "This is a dual celebration for us. Independent cinema often struggles to find its place, but this recognition by the Independent Spirit Awards highlights the fact that there is a place for all kinds of cinema. Girls Will Be Girls is a case study in how co-productions can be made for a global audience, with an Indian story at its heart. Kani’s performance is nothing short of transformative, and her nomination is well-deserved. With its India release just around the corner, we’re thrilled to bring this story home and witness how it resonates with audiences across India on Prime Video."&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/richa-chadha-and-ali-fazals-girls-will-be-girls-wins-big-at-mami-mumbai-film-festival-2024-770604">Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s Girls Will Be Girls wins big at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024</a>

The Independent Spirit Awards will be held in Los Angeles in February 2025.

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s maiden production Girls Will Be Girls continues its journey of international acclaim. The film has secured two prestigious nominations at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards.

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s maiden production Girls Will Be Girls continues its journey of international acclaim. The film has secured two prestigious nominations at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards. The film is among the top five contenders for the John Cassavetes Award, which honours the Creative Team of the best films made with a budget under $1 million, earning Richa Chadha, the producer of the film, a nomination nod. Additionally, the film’s lead actor, Kani Kusruti, has been nominated for Best Supporting Performance, marking another milestone for the critically lauded film. Directed by Shuchi Talati and produced under Richa and Ali’s banner Pushing Buttons Studio, Girls Will Be Girls is an evocative coming-of-age drama that has already won hearts globally, with accolades and recognition at premier festivals beginning with the Sundance Film Festival. Following its successful release in the US, UK and France, the film is now set to release in its home country, India, on December 18, exclusively on Prime Video. As the prestigious John Cassavetes Award is for the Creative Team, director and producer Richa and Shuchi are both nominated for the award. Also Read: Girls Will Be Girls trailer: Kani Kusruti, Preeti Panigrahi feature in a heartwarming mother-daughter story "We couldn’t be prouder of what Girls Will Be Girls has achieved. To be nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which celebrates independent filmmaking at its finest, is truly an honour. And Kani’s nomination is a testament to her incredible talent and the truly incredible year she is having." said Richa in a statement. Ali Fazal added, "This is a dual celebration for us. Independent cinema often struggles to find its place, but this recognition by the Independent Spirit Awards highlights the fact that there is a place for all kinds of cinema. Girls Will Be Girls is a case study in how co-productions can be made for a global audience, with an Indian story at its heart. Kani’s performance is nothing short of transformative, and her nomination is well-deserved. With its India release just around the corner, we’re thrilled to bring this story home and witness how it resonates with audiences across India on Prime Video." Also Read: Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s Girls Will Be Girls wins big at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 The Independent Spirit Awards will be held in Los Angeles in February 2025.

Richa Chadha and Kani Kusruti earn nominations for Girls Will Be Girls at Independent Spirit Awards

After impressing the audience with her meditative performance in Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, actress Kani Kusruti will next be seen in Shuchi Talati's critically acclaimed Girls Will Be Girls. The coming-of-age drama has been produced by Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne, and Shuchi Talati, with Ali Fazal serving as executive producer.&nbsp; 
 
After making rounds of various film festivals this past year, the film will be released on Prime Video. It features Kani, who plays mom&nbsp;to young actress Preeti Panigrahi.&nbsp; 
 
Girls Will Be Girls delves into the complexities of adolescence and societal expectations, seen through the female gaze. The film follows 18-year-old Mira, as she navigates her rebellious awakening and emotional turmoil, intertwined with her mother’s own unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. 
 
Girls Will Be Girls had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and has captivated audiences worldwide with TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and Cannes 2024 screenings. &nbsp;It won multiple awards at prestigious international festivals, and recently had its Indian premiere at MAMI Film Festival.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/all-we-imagine-as-light-wins-best-international-feature-at-gotham-awards-2024-781171">All We Imagine As Light wins Best International Feature at Gotham Awards 2024</a> 
 
Richa Chadha, the co-producer of the film, shared, “Girls Will Be Girls is a film that captures the raw and authentic experiences of young adults, reflecting the rebellious spirit of adolescence while exploring the challenges of adulting, where inter-generational conflicts and struggle for independence are common. We are thrilled that the universal theme of our dream project has resonated with audiences worldwide, earning international acclaim and recognition at some of the most prominent film festivals. With the film now set for an exclusive digital launch on Prime Video in India, we are excited for it to reach audiences across the country who may see echoes of their own journeys in Mira’s story.” 
 
Ali Fazal, the executive producer of the film, added, “Girls Will Be Girls is incredibly special to Richa and me because it’s our first project as producers. A lot of heart, passion, and hard work have gone into bringing this vision to life, making it a journey of immense learning and growth. The phenomenal response from international audiences has been highly motivating, encouraging us to continue pursuing our passion for delivering distinctive narratives. Having this film release exclusively on Prime Video, which feels like a second home for both of us as actors, makes this project even more special.” 
 
Director Shuchi Talati shared, “Girls Will Be Girls is a reflection of diverse perspectives on coming-of-age, uniquely told through the female gaze. Bringing this story to life with an incredible team has been nothing short of extraordinary, and the global recognition we’ve received has been deeply gratifying. I’m thrilled that Indian audiences will now have the opportunity to experience the film on Prime Video.”

Watch the trailer of Girls Will Be Girls here:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NKqnwBLPel8?si=kMUF60mrsbV1bWUG" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Accolades for Girls Will Be Girls 
 
Girls Will Be Girls has garnered significant acclaim both nationally and globally, including at its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won two awards across, one of which was the top honour, The Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Category.

The film continued its victory lap, and the accolades include the special Jury Award for Acting at Sundance, the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles, Best Film at the Jakarta International Festival and Biarritz Film Festival, and the Transilvania Trophy for Best Film at the Transilvania International Film Festival. The film also received four awards at MAMI. Additionally, it has been screened at other renowned festivals worldwide, including Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and the Berlin International Film Festival, and made its India debut at the MAMI Film Festival.

Girls Will Be Girls will&nbsp;release&nbsp;on Prime Video on December 14.&nbsp;

After impressing the audience with her meditative performance in Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, actress Kani Kusruti will next be seen in Shuchi Talati's critically acclaimed Girls Will Be Girls.

After impressing the audience with her meditative performance in Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, actress Kani Kusruti will next be seen in Shuchi Talati's critically acclaimed Girls Will Be Girls. The coming-of-age drama has been produced by Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne, and Shuchi Talati, with Ali Fazal serving as executive producer. After making rounds of various film festivals this past year, the film will be released on Prime Video. It features Kani, who plays mom to young actress Preeti Panigrahi. Girls Will Be Girls delves into the complexities of adolescence and societal expectations, seen through the female gaze. The film follows 18-year-old Mira, as she navigates her rebellious awakening and emotional turmoil, intertwined with her mother’s own unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. Girls Will Be Girls had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and has captivated audiences worldwide with TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and Cannes 2024 screenings. It won multiple awards at prestigious international festivals, and recently had its Indian premiere at MAMI Film Festival. All We Imagine As Light wins Best International Feature at Gotham Awards 2024 Richa Chadha, the co-producer of the film, shared, “Girls Will Be Girls is a film that captures the raw and authentic experiences of young adults, reflecting the rebellious spirit of adolescence while exploring the challenges of adulting, where inter-generational conflicts and struggle for independence are common. We are thrilled that the universal theme of our dream project has resonated with audiences worldwide, earning international acclaim and recognition at some of the most prominent film festivals. With the film now set for an exclusive digital launch on Prime Video in India, we are excited for it to reach audiences across the country who may see echoes of their own journeys in Mira’s story.” Ali Fazal, the executive producer of the film, added, “Girls Will Be Girls is incredibly special to Richa and me because it’s our first project as producers. A lot of heart, passion, and hard work have gone into bringing this vision to life, making it a journey of immense learning and growth. The phenomenal response from international audiences has been highly motivating, encouraging us to continue pursuing our passion for delivering distinctive narratives. Having this film release exclusively on Prime Video, which feels like a second home for both of us as actors, makes this project even more special.” Director Shuchi Talati shared, “Girls Will Be Girls is a reflection of diverse perspectives on coming-of-age, uniquely told through the female gaze. Bringing this story to life with an incredible team has been nothing short of extraordinary, and the global recognition we’ve received has been deeply gratifying. I’m thrilled that Indian audiences will now have the opportunity to experience the film on Prime Video.” Watch the trailer of Girls Will Be Girls here: Accolades for Girls Will Be Girls Girls Will Be Girls has garnered significant acclaim both nationally and globally, including at its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won two awards across, one of which was the top honour, The Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Category. The film continued its victory lap, and the accolades include the special Jury Award for Acting at Sundance, the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles, Best Film at the Jakarta International Festival and Biarritz Film Festival, and the Transilvania Trophy for Best Film at the Transilvania International Film Festival. The film also received four awards at MAMI. Additionally, it has been screened at other renowned festivals worldwide, including Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and the Berlin International Film Festival, and made its India debut at the MAMI Film Festival. Girls Will Be Girls will release on Prime Video on December 14.

Girls Will Be Girls trailer: Kani Kusruti, Preeti Panigrahi feature in a heartwarming mother-daughter story

Indian actress Kani Kusruti is on seventh heaven after&nbsp;her film All We Imagine As Light recently won the coveted Grand Prix award at&nbsp;Cannes Film Festival 2024. After returning from Cannes, the actress, who still can’t believe that they won such a huge feat, sat down for an interview to discuss how she selects her films and about grabbing attention on the red carpet with her watermelon bag, a symbol of Palestinian resistance.&nbsp;

Kani Kusruti said, “I do not have the privilege to choose only the films that align with my politics,” after she was called hypocritical for flashing the watermelon bag at the Cannes red carpet while having been&nbsp;part of a film like Biriyaani which was essentially Islamophobic.

<h2>Kani Kusruti explains why she did Biriyaani, which many call an Islamophobic film</h2>

While Biriyaani got her a state award in 2020, she said she did the film for financial reasons. “I had told Sajin that neither my politics nor aesthetics were aligned with the script. Sajin comes from a backward Muslim community and speaks his politics, which is correct in its own right. But that is not my politics,” she said. Sajin Baabu was the director of Biriyaani. He has earlier faced criticism from sections of the Muslim community for allegedly normalising Muslim men joining the terror outfit ISIS and exaggerating the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among Muslims in Kerala.&nbsp;

Some also said that the film has a “a voyeuristic take on Muslim women”. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Kani Kusruti rejected The Kerala Story</h2>

Kani further added that while she had disagreements with the director, she went ahead with the film because of financial difficulties. She also revealed in the same breadth that she turned down an audition call for The Kerala Story by director Sudipto Sen.

On the lack of opportunities for her, Kani added, “I would appreciate it if I were at least given the chance to audition before I am denied the role.” She revealed that she gets more offers from the Hindi film industry than the Malayalam industry.&nbsp;

“You [the interviewer] asked why I am not part of more Malayalam films. I can only do films that come to me. If I do not get employment, I will again have to choose films that do not align with my politics,” Kani said.

<h2>Kani explains her decision to carry watermelon bag at Cannes</h2>

On her Cannes watermelon bag, Kani stood her ground and said, “There were many people who wore badges and different kinds of accessories to show their solidarity with different issues, not just Palestine. They addressed issues like violence against women in workspaces, low wages of workers in Cannes, and many more. I had decided that I should carry something in solidarity with Palestine.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-bollywood-celebs-alia-bhatt-kareena-kapoor-varun-dhawan-extend-support-to-palestine-726472">All Eyes on Rafah: Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Varun Dhawan back Palestinians amid Israel attack</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/what-a-huge-moment-congratulations-pour-in-for-payal-kapadias-all-we-imagine-as-light-win-at-cannes-725481">Congratulations pour in for Payal Kapadia as All We Imagine As Light wins big at Cannes</a>

Indian actress Kani Kusruti is on seventh heaven after her film All We Imagine As Light recently won the coveted Grand Prix award at Cannes Film Festival 2024. After returning from Cannes, the actress, who still can’t believe that they won such a huge feat, sat down for an interview to discuss how she selects her films and about grabbing attention on the red carpet with her watermelon bag, a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

Indian actress Kani Kusruti is on seventh heaven after her film All We Imagine As Light recently won the coveted Grand Prix award at Cannes Film Festival 2024. After returning from Cannes, the actress, who still can’t believe that they won such a huge feat, sat down for an interview to discuss how she selects her films and about grabbing attention on the red carpet with her watermelon bag, a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Kani Kusruti said, “I do not have the privilege to choose only the films that align with my politics,” after she was called hypocritical for flashing the watermelon bag at the Cannes red carpet while having been part of a film like Biriyaani which was essentially Islamophobic. Kani Kusruti explains why she did Biriyaani, which many call an Islamophobic film While Biriyaani got her a state award in 2020, she said she did the film for financial reasons. “I had told Sajin that neither my politics nor aesthetics were aligned with the script. Sajin comes from a backward Muslim community and speaks his politics, which is correct in its own right. But that is not my politics,” she said. Sajin Baabu was the director of Biriyaani. He has earlier faced criticism from sections of the Muslim community for allegedly normalising Muslim men joining the terror outfit ISIS and exaggerating the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among Muslims in Kerala. Some also said that the film has a “a voyeuristic take on Muslim women”. Kani Kusruti rejected The Kerala Story Kani further added that while she had disagreements with the director, she went ahead with the film because of financial difficulties. She also revealed in the same breadth that she turned down an audition call for The Kerala Story by director Sudipto Sen. On the lack of opportunities for her, Kani added, “I would appreciate it if I were at least given the chance to audition before I am denied the role.” She revealed that she gets more offers from the Hindi film industry than the Malayalam industry. “You [the interviewer] asked why I am not part of more Malayalam films. I can only do films that come to me. If I do not get employment, I will again have to choose films that do not align with my politics,” Kani said. Kani explains her decision to carry watermelon bag at Cannes On her Cannes watermelon bag, Kani stood her ground and said, “There were many people who wore badges and different kinds of accessories to show their solidarity with different issues, not just Palestine. They addressed issues like violence against women in workspaces, low wages of workers in Cannes, and many more. I had decided that I should carry something in solidarity with Palestine.” All Eyes on Rafah: Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Varun Dhawan back Palestinians amid Israel attack Also read: Congratulations pour in for Payal Kapadia as All We Imagine As Light wins big at Cannes

Cannes winner Kani Kusruti reveals she rejected The Kerala Story after being called for audition

Scripting history at Cannes 2024, Payal Kapadia lifted the Grand Prix award on Saturday night at the prestigious film festival for her film All We Imagine As Light. She also became the first Indian filmmaker to achieve this feat. The film stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon in lead roles, who were all present at the global platform to celebrate their victory.

Who is Kani Kusruti?

Kani Kusruti, who hails from Kerala, first gained recognition in 2009 with the film Kerala Cafe. She has also won the Best Actress Award at the Moscow International Film Festival for her performance as Khadeeja in the film Biriyaani.

In 2015, Kani became a household name as she joined the soap opera Eswaran Sakshiyayi, directed by K. K. Rajeev. She played the part of Advocate Tresa, a lawyer who joins in on the investigation for her brother's murder.

Before All We Imagine as Light, the actress played pivotal roles in Kirkkan, Vazhakku, Nishiddho, Vichithram, Pada and Tryst with Destiny. Kani also played the role of DFO Dina in the 2024 Malayalam Amazon Prime series Poacher. In Kapadia's film, she plays the role of&nbsp;Prabha.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-sharmin-segal-cried-on-malaal-set-after-sanjay-leela-bhansali-rejected-her-shot-post-30-takes-725533">Sharmin Segal cried on Malaal set after Sanjay Leela Bhansali rejected her shot post 30 takes</a>

Who is&nbsp;Divya Prabha?

Divya Prabha, who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, played the role of Anu in All We Imagine as Light. She hails from Kerala and holds an MBA degree from Annamalai University. She made her screen debut with the 2013 film Lokpal. She later played several character roles in films like Mumbai Police, Cold Storage, SIM, Kayal, Bhaiyya Bhaiyya, Pianist and Vettah.&nbsp;She gained wider attention for her roles in the films Take Off and Thamaasha.

In 2022, she played the lead role in Ariyippu, which was written and directed by Mahesh Narayanan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/after-kelly-rowland-cannes-security-guard-gets-into-massive-argument-with-dominican-star-massiel-taveras-725512">After Kelly Rowland, Cannes security guard gets into massive argument with Dominican star Massiel Taveras</a>

All We Imagine as Light is about two Malayali nurses who are living in Mumbai and troubled by their relationships. The two embark on a road trip to a beach town where "the mystical forest becomes a space for their dreams to manifest."

Scripting history at Cannes 2024, Payal Kapadia lifted the Grand Prix award on Saturday night at the prestigious film festival for her film All We Imagine As Light.

Scripting history at Cannes 2024, Payal Kapadia lifted the Grand Prix award on Saturday night at the prestigious film festival for her film All We Imagine As Light. She also became the first Indian filmmaker to achieve this feat. The film stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon in lead roles, who were all present at the global platform to celebrate their victory. Who is Kani Kusruti? Kani Kusruti, who hails from Kerala, first gained recognition in 2009 with the film Kerala Cafe. She has also won the Best Actress Award at the Moscow International Film Festival for her performance as Khadeeja in the film Biriyaani. In 2015, Kani became a household name as she joined the soap opera Eswaran Sakshiyayi, directed by K. K. Rajeev. She played the part of Advocate Tresa, a lawyer who joins in on the investigation for her brother's murder. Before All We Imagine as Light, the actress played pivotal roles in Kirkkan, Vazhakku, Nishiddho, Vichithram, Pada and Tryst with Destiny. Kani also played the role of DFO Dina in the 2024 Malayalam Amazon Prime series Poacher. In Kapadia's film, she plays the role of Prabha. Also read: Sharmin Segal cried on Malaal set after Sanjay Leela Bhansali rejected her shot post 30 takes Who is Divya Prabha? Divya Prabha, who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, played the role of Anu in All We Imagine as Light. She hails from Kerala and holds an MBA degree from Annamalai University. She made her screen debut with the 2013 film Lokpal. She later played several character roles in films like Mumbai Police, Cold Storage, SIM, Kayal, Bhaiyya Bhaiyya, Pianist and Vettah. She gained wider attention for her roles in the films Take Off and Thamaasha. In 2022, she played the lead role in Ariyippu, which was written and directed by Mahesh Narayanan. Also read: After Kelly Rowland, Cannes security guard gets into massive argument with Dominican star Massiel Taveras All We Imagine as Light is about two Malayali nurses who are living in Mumbai and troubled by their relationships. The two embark on a road trip to a beach town where "the mystical forest becomes a space for their dreams to manifest."

Meet Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha from All We Imagine As Light, 2024 Grand Prix winner at Cannes

Kani Kusruti, the star of Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light, made a subtle but firm statement during the red carpet premiere of her film at Cannes 2024 on Thursday (May 23).&nbsp; 
 
Kusruti, who plays Prabha in the film, caught the internet's attention when she walked the red carpet carrying a watermelon-shaped handbag, which is an international symbol of solidarity with Palestinians.

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Luminous Red Steps 💡 Montée des Marches lumineuse 
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT – PAYAL KAPADIA 
 
Avec l’équipe du film / With the film crew 
 
🔎 Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon, Kani Kusruti, Payal Kapadia, Divya Prabha, Ranabir Das, Julien Graff, Zico Maitra, Thomas Hakim<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cannes2024</a>… <a href="https://t.co/upZGnVqEPe">pic.twitter.com/upZGnVqEPe</a>
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Festival_Cannes/status/1793738831373492460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Several users on social media applauded Kusruti's move. One of the users wrote, "not only did All We Imagine as Light – the first Indian film to compete at Cannes in three years – get a massive standing ovation, actor Kani Kusruti decided to use her moment to show clear solidarity for Palestine." 
 
"India has a spine. Look at Kani Kusruti being so brave in front of the world. Standing up for Palestine. A talent powerhouse in her performances. Malayalam cinema might save us all the blushes. Cannes," wrote another user.

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Kani Kusruti, one of the two stunning leads of Payal Kapadia’s ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT 🌙 🇵🇸 <a href="https://t.co/D2nurnZxIS">pic.twitter.com/D2nurnZxIS</a>
— Devika Girish (@devikagirgayi) <a href="https://twitter.com/devikagirgayi/status/1793765618413633615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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She is Kani Kusruti, Indian actress from Kerala. 
She is showing watermelon design handbag at Festival de Cannes, it is the symbol of solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸🍉 
This Little solidarity by an Indian celebrities are rare. 
Kudos to her. 
PS - her film"All We Imagine as Light" is… <a href="https://t.co/gdaFgCSJhB">https://t.co/gdaFgCSJhB</a> <a href="https://t.co/nIvi52EgoS">pic.twitter.com/nIvi52EgoS</a>
— Laibah Firdaus. لائبہ فردوس (@FirdausLaibah) <a href="https://twitter.com/FirdausLaibah/status/1793792663554285949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Kani Kusruti at the Cannes standing in solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸 
 
The woman of Malayalam cinema 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/0HtahNpTGj">pic.twitter.com/0HtahNpTGj</a>
— Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) <a href="https://twitter.com/DearthOfSid/status/1793885688573890690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Kustruti's co-star Hridhu Haroon sported a traditional veshti and a long embellished kurta for the red carpet premiere, putting traditional men's wear on a global platform.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-cate-blanchett-uses-cannes-red-carpet-to-make-a-political-statement-723932">Cate Blanchett uses Cannes red carpet to make a political statement</a> 
 
All We Imagine as Light is the first Indian film to qualify for the festival's competition section in 30 years, making Kapadia a contender for the prestigious Palme d'Or. On Thursday night, the cast of the film danced their way to the main theatre for the premiere of their film- much to the delight of the camera persons.&nbsp; 
 
The film stars Kani Kusruti, Chhaya Kadam, Divya Prabha, and Hridhu Haroon in key roles.

Kani Kusruti, the star of Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light, made a subtle but firm statement during the red carpet premiere of her film at Cannes 2024 on Thursday (May 23).

Kani Kusruti, the star of Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light, made a subtle but firm statement during the red carpet premiere of her film at Cannes 2024 on Thursday (May 23). Kusruti, who plays Prabha in the film, caught the internet's attention when she walked the red carpet carrying a watermelon-shaped handbag, which is an international symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. Luminous Red Steps 💡 Montée des Marches lumineuse ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT – PAYAL KAPADIA Avec l’équipe du film / With the film crew 🔎 Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon, Kani Kusruti, Payal Kapadia, Divya Prabha, Ranabir Das, Julien Graff, Zico Maitra, Thomas Hakim#Cannes2024… pic.twitter.com/upZGnVqEPe — Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 23, 2024 × Several users on social media applauded Kusruti's move. One of the users wrote, "not only did All We Imagine as Light – the first Indian film to compete at Cannes in three years – get a massive standing ovation, actor Kani Kusruti decided to use her moment to show clear solidarity for Palestine." "India has a spine. Look at Kani Kusruti being so brave in front of the world. Standing up for Palestine. A talent powerhouse in her performances. Malayalam cinema might save us all the blushes. Cannes," wrote another user. Kani Kusruti, one of the two stunning leads of Payal Kapadia’s ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT 🌙 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/D2nurnZxIS — Devika Girish (@devikagirgayi) May 23, 2024 × She is Kani Kusruti, Indian actress from Kerala. She is showing watermelon design handbag at Festival de Cannes, it is the symbol of solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸🍉 This Little solidarity by an Indian celebrities are rare. Kudos to her. PS - her film"All We Imagine as Light" is… https://t.co/gdaFgCSJhB pic.twitter.com/nIvi52EgoS — Laibah Firdaus. لائبہ فردوس (@FirdausLaibah) May 23, 2024 × Kani Kusruti at the Cannes standing in solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸 The woman of Malayalam cinema 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0HtahNpTGj — Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) May 24, 2024 × Meanwhile, Kustruti's co-star Hridhu Haroon sported a traditional veshti and a long embellished kurta for the red carpet premiere, putting traditional men's wear on a global platform. Also read: Cate Blanchett uses Cannes red carpet to make a political statement All We Imagine as Light is the first Indian film to qualify for the festival's competition section in 30 years, making Kapadia a contender for the prestigious Palme d'Or. On Thursday night, the cast of the film danced their way to the main theatre for the premiere of their film- much to the delight of the camera persons. The film stars Kani Kusruti, Chhaya Kadam, Divya Prabha, and Hridhu Haroon in key roles.

Cannes 2024: Kani Kusruti lends support to Palestine, Hridhu Haroon takes veshti to film fest

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