Actor-musician Shruti Haasan on jury of new Action Grant film initiative at Cannes

Pan Indian actress and star of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema, Shruti Haasan, sparkled at a special reception during the Cannes Film Festival at the Chopard Rooftop at Hotel Martinez on the French Riviera to launch a film funding initiative aimed at underrepresented filmmakers.

Internationally renowned jewellery brand, Chopard, and pioneering film initiative for women and underrepresented genders in cinema, Breaking Through The Lens, held the event to announce a new Action Grant in support of underrepresented filmmakers.

Shruti, who will be making her international film debut in British-Greek production ‘The Eye’, was introduced as part of the Grant’s Jury alongside Chopard President Caroline Scheufele. She wore Atsuko Kudo – the exclusive latex inspired designer.

The actress and musician, known for her multifaceted acting skills and powerful performances, has used her social platforms to speak out about the issues faced by women in the entertainment industry and has been a strong supporter of initiatives aimed at promoting gender parity.

Meanwhile, Indian cinema continues to make a mark at the world-famous film festival, including with a screening of ‘Revival’ – a dance drama directed by debutant Bharath Kishore.

The film was showcased over the weekend in the Marche du Film section and received rave reviews from both international and Indian media.

“This is an out and out dance film and talks about the importance of dance from the very first to last frame. The core of the film tries to talk about aspects beyond just moves. It explains that dance is not just about movements but also about absorbing the culture and lifestyle," said Kishore.

This year, four Indian films were screened as a part of the competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 while few others were screened out of competition in various sections, including Director's Fortnight, Midnight Screenings, Uncertain Regard and Marche Du Film.

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Anurag Kashyap's ‘Kennedy’ is being screened this week in the Midnight Screenings category. The festival attendees also got the opportunity to see some independent Indian movies that were screened during the festival.

The red-carpet appearances of Bollywood stars including Sara Ali Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Esha Gupta have added glamour to the event.