The fashion approach at Cannes seems to have stirred a debate about if the focus is being taken away from the movies. Shabana Azmi took to Twitter to say that back in the day, when she attended the film festival, it was all about films and not clothes.
But Sonam Kapoor, who graced the red carpet at Cannes as a L’Oréal Paris ambassador has a quick reply to this. “It’s a film festival, so we’re all walking here for a film. I’m here with a make-up brand. If I were here for a film, I would be dressing very differently. But since I’m here for a make-up and a glam brand, I think it makes sense to do my make-up and hair, and have a lot of fun. Correct me if I’m wrong.”
Sonam can’t fathom why there are not more Indian movies being screened at the renowned film festival. “I don’t why there are no other Indian films coming here. I just know that our Indian market is very different from the international one. We don’t have a typical formula. Look at Neerja, Dangal — they don’t have a typical formula, but they have done well. When you put a festival tag on movies, producers are under the impression that the film is not going to do well commercially. I think that’s why a lot of producers don’t send their films to festivals. That’s what my experience has been.”
However, the candid actress also says that she isn’t on board with the notion that film festivals translate to commercial duds. “I don’t agree with it at all, because I think films like Slumdog Millionaire became worldwide successes because of festivals. Look at Lunchbox. There are a lot of films in India that have done very well, and could’ve done well in festival circuits. I’m not the right person to answer questions on the business analysis, but this is my very humble take on it,” she points out.
As a fashionista, though, Sonam somehow manages to bring in some Indian element or the other to enhance her experience at Cannes. “I’m proud of the young Indian designers. If I get to showcase India in a positive light, I try to do that. My sister (Rhea Kapoor) and I make a lot of efforts to do that. Every year, we make it a point to have an Indian element; whether it’s wearing Indian jewellery, Indian outfit… It’s important if you have a platform to showcase India in some way or the other. Whether people like that or not, I don’t know. But that’s my responsibility,” she concludes.
