Mumbai, Dec 5 (NationPress): Renowned filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, who has long served as a vital cultural voice for Indian narratives in Western cinema, recently shared her honest thoughts with IANS about the ongoing hurdles she faces as a British-Indian filmmaker, particularly in the West.

“I am always aware of the fact that my appearance does not align with what filmmakers in the West typically embody,” Chadha stated. “Individuals like my parents and I have had to fight to be recognized for our true selves. Thus, the act of creating films in Britain itself is a political statement, allowing me to tell stories from my unique viewpoint.” She emphasized that despite her impressive track record with films such as Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice, there remains a widespread notion that Indian perspectives are financially unviable in the West. “The idea persists that casting an Indian actor as the lead in a Western film will not yield commercial success. I find myself frequently categorized by others, yet I am dedicated to breaking free from those limitations and defying the norms,” Chadha remarked.

Currently, the filmmaker is ramping up for the release of her upcoming festive film, The Christmas Karma, featuring popular Indian-origin actor Kunal Nayyar. Notably, the film will include a special musical twist: a Bollywood rendition of the classic holiday song ‘Last Christmas,’ performed by global superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Chadha has previously brought to life some of the most significant and successful cross-cultural films, including Bend It Like Beckham with Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, Bride and Prejudice with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Martin Henderson, and Viceroy’s House featuring Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, and Huma Qureshi.

With The Christmas Karma on the horizon, Gurinder Chadha is poised to once again challenge the industry toward more inclusive filmmaking on a global scale. The movie is set to be released on December 12.

–IANS

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