Actress Anupria Goenka is set to make her mark at the Cannes Film Festival 2026 with 'Bombay Stories', a film in which she portrays Saugandhi, a sex worker drawn from Nobel-laureate-level short fiction. The film will be showcased at the prestigious Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market) and marks Goenka's first independent film outing.

About the Film

'Bombay Stories' is directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi and is adapted from Saadat Hasan Manto's celebrated short story 'Hatak', part of his seminal collection of the same name. The film explores the lives of sex workers through a satirical lens and also features Mouni Roy and Sushmiita Singh in key roles. This comes amid a growing wave of Indian independent cinema drawing on Manto's legacy for its unflinching social commentary.

Goenka on Her Character

Speaking about the film, Goenka said, 'I have always wanted to do independent cinema and I am so glad, I am portraying a character written by Manto, in my first. Hatak means insult and my story is about Saugandhi's journey navigating her own self through the society's scrutiny towards her.'

Elaborating on Saugandhi's inner world, she added, 'Saugandhi being a sex worker has resigned to that life. But she craves love, appreciation, and the feeling of being made to feel like a woman by a man, and not just be treated like a sexual object. I found so much of me in her and explored so many other shades of me as a woman through Saugandhi.'

The Film's Social Message

Goenka also articulated the film's broader stance on agency and dignity. 'My belief is that as long as someone wants to sell their body and has the agency to do that, it's absolutely their choice. It's like any other profession. It becomes a sin and is abhorred when one is forced into the system against their choice, when they don't have any legal rights or are dehumanized and looked upon like objects,' she said.

She added that the film aims to 'shed light on the discrimination sex workers face and mirror the reality of the society,' expressing hope that the message reaches every viewer. Notably, this is among the few Indian productions at Cannes 2026 to directly engage with the lived experience of sex workers through a literary adaptation.

What to Watch For

With its Manto pedigree and a cast that includes Mouni Roy, 'Bombay Stories' is positioned as a significant entry in the Indian independent film space this year. Its Cannes market showcase could open doors for international distribution, potentially bringing a nuanced portrayal of marginalised communities to a global audience.