Sanya Malhotra Film To Close NY Film Fest

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) – The upcoming film ‘Mrs,’ starring Sanya Malhotra in the lead, has been selected as the closing film for the 24th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). The film will be screened on June 2.

‘Mrs’ is a captivating account of a woman’s strength and resilience. It also stars Nishant Dahiya and Kanwaljit Singh in pivotal roles. It is the Hindi remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film ‘The Great Indian Kitchen,’ which starred Nimisha Sajayan.

Reacting to the news, Sanya said: “It is a proud moment for me that ‘Mrs’ has been chosen as the closing film for NYIFF. Playing Richa, a character grappling with the delicate balance between tradition and ambition, was an immense honor and responsibility, given that it embodies the struggles of so many Indian women. Our endeavor to breathe life into this story has been incredibly rewarding, and I am eagerly awaiting to share it with the world.”

In addition, ‘Sumo Didi’ will also be screened on June 2 at the upcoming edition of the film festival. The film has secured double nominations for Best Debut Film and Nikhil Sachan for Best Screenplay.

Shot in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Japan, ‘Sumo Didi’ follows the story of a middle-class girl from a conservative Marwari family. She defies the odds to turn her perceived weakness into her strength and breaks the glass ceiling.

Sharing his excitement, director Jayant Rohatgi said: “After a heartwarming response in Tokyo and Palm Springs, I am excited to be a part of another prestigious film festival at NYIFF. It’s a privilege to be amid such powerful films and filmmakers celebrating the best of Indian cinema. Hetal’s journey is simply remarkable.”

“Her tenacity in breaking through gender stereotypes, social prejudices, a lack of opportunities, and her own demons to make a seemingly impossible dream come true moved me immensely. I hope our film resonates with and inspires the audience in New York as well,” he added.

Presented by Jio Studios in association with Fresh Lime Films and MA + TH, ‘Sumo Didi’ is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Akash Chawla, Amit Chandrra, and Arunava Sengupta.

Meanwhile, ‘Mrs’ has secured nominations for Sanya in the Best Actress category and Arati Kadav in the Best Director category.