Kiran Rao Urges Industry to Back Authentic Storytelling Over Bollywood Glamour

Dharamshala, Nov 3 : At the 14th Dharamshala International Film Festival, filmmaker Kiran Rao made a heartfelt appeal to the industry and audiences alike  urging real support for independent cinema that often struggles to find space in theatres. Speaking candidly about the challenges of making and distributing small-budget films, the Laapataa Ladies director said that while the rise of OTT platforms has opened new doors for niche stories, the real battle lies in getting audiences to theatres.

“People are discovering new cinema sitting at home,” Rao said. “But will they spend ₹150 to watch a ‘Homebound’ or ‘Sabar Bonda’? That’s the real question.”

Rao described the current state of indie filmmaking in India as “walking uphill with a camera, a script, and a lot of hope.” Despite the boom in streaming and the growing curiosity for non-mainstream content, she pointed out that distribution remains the weakest link. “There are opportunities today,” she said, “but a huge gap in distribution.”

Highlighting the disparity between mainstream and independent films, Rao stressed that theatres remain out of reach for most small films. Without big marketing budgets or star power, even the most powerful stories struggle to make it to the big screen.

Known for championing meaningful storytelling through films like Dhobi Ghat and her continued support for indie creators, Kiran Rao’s message was clear  the Indian film industry needs to look beyond glamour and invest in real cinema that speaks from the heart.