Is Sayani Gupta's ‘Dear Men’ a Necessary Wake-Up Call?

Mumbai, July 30 (NationPress) With the premiere of her film “Dear Men” starting Wednesday, actress Sayani Gupta emphasized that the film serves as a crucial reminder that the horrifying realities of human trafficking are not confined to distant times or places.

Sayani remarked: “Dear Men is a stark reminder that these stories of human trafficking are unfolding right now, sometimes just a few kilometers from our daily lives. In portraying the character based on Dipesh's memory, I had to confront the unimaginable truths faced by countless girls.”

She continued: “It wasn’t easy. But it felt necessary. Collaborating with Keith was a delight, as he is the kind of filmmaker who values silence over dialogue, allowing me to explore something more profound and instinctual.”

The actress expressed her hope that the film prompts viewers to ponder deeper issues.

“I wish it leads to questions because that’s where transformation begins.”

Premiering on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the film draws inspiration from a true story, focusing on activist Dipesh Tank’s real-life covert operation to rescue trafficked girls.

Based on actual events, Dear Men follows an undercover rescue worker who pretends to be a Bollywood director to penetrate a remote, lawless village in Bihar.

Inspired by the authentic rescue mission by Dipesh Tank, a recipient of the Governor’s Medal and activist who went undercover as a filmmaker to save two underage girls from the sex trade, Dear Men captures the heart of real-life horror.

Directed by Keith Gomes, the film employs handheld cameras and natural lighting to enhance its emotional impact.

Gomes stated: “We didn’t choose to premiere Dear Men on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons for mere symbolism. This day compels us to face the uncomfortable truths, stripping away our denial. This film does just that.”

“It doesn’t allow you to look away. When I first learned about Dipesh’s rescue operation, it felt less like a hero’s journey and more like a man acting on pure instinct, risking everything because the system had let two girls down.”

The director noted that Dear Men aims to create a cinematic intimacy with a crisis that we’ve long kept at a distance.

“It’s raw. It doesn’t wrap itself in hope; it simply confronts reality. Perhaps, on this significant day, that’s precisely what we need,” he added.

Dipesh Tank, the social activist and real-life inspiration for Dear Men, shared his perspective: “The first time I entered a trafficking hotspot, I didn’t feel like a rescuer. I felt like an intruder — someone who had wandered into an alternate reality where childhood had a deadline. What Keith has accomplished with Dear Men is instilling urgency and awareness about this grim reality of our society that we often perceive only as headlines.”

Tank expressed hope that with the release of this film on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we can stop pretending that this issue is distant.

“It’s not. It’s closer than we realize. I've learned through my years of fieldwork that every rescue writes a new ending. In this battle, there’s only one way forward — until no child is left behind,” he concluded.

Dear Men premieres on Keith Gomes' YouTube channel.