Exclusive interview with Kiran Bhivagade, Indian Actress

By Jean-Paul Eliard
The 15 May 2025

Hi Kiran, I'm glad to do this interview.

Well, Jean-Paul, thank you so much for taking the time to send over these thoughtful questions. I'm happy to share my experiences with you and the readers of www.cinema-movietheater.com :).

Can you introduce yourself to the visitors of cinema-movietheater.com?

Hello to the wonderful audience at cinema-movietheatre.com. I'm Kiran, and my journey into the world of film has reached an incredible milestone with my debut in 'The Shameless.'

What an extraordinary beginning to my acting career, with our film being an official selection in the Un Certain Regard category at the esteemed 77th Cannes Film Festival in 2024.

To witness the profound impact of our story, directed with such sensitivity and vision by Konstantin Bojanov, has been overwhelmingly special, especially seeing how it resonated with an international audience.

In 'The Shameless,' I play Mitali, a character deeply connected to the very core of this narrative, and her journey is pivotal in understanding the film's emotional landscape.

Being part of a film that has garnered such historic recognition for India at Cannes has been truly remarkable.

I'm so excited to share my experiences and the powerful story of 'The Shameless' with you.

What did you like in your character of Mitali?

What genuinely hit me about Mitali was this fierce, almost gut-level strength she had, even when faced with just unbelievable hardship.

Here's this young girl trying to get through the really tough and often brutal realities of the Devadasi system – this whole hidden world that's hard to even imagine.

It really struck me that no young girl should ever have to see or live through such circumstances, but for Mitali, it was her normal.

Yet, even within that, she had enough understanding to know this isn't how life should be, but felt she had no choice but to stand up for her family.

That inner toughness really shook me. It's a fundamental human resilience

I believe anyone can connect with.

For me, living so far from my own family here in Mumbai, the way Mitali just fiercely loved and protected her sister, Devika, really got to me.

That simple human need to care for the people you love, even when things are impossible, you know?

The fact that she was willing to carry so much, just because of love, shows this really fundamental thing about how much we'll give for those we care about.

Honestly, Mitali has this quiet kind of strength that I hope sticks with people after they see the film.

Her story, even though it's about something specific, touches on these bigger human feelings of being strong when you have to be and the love you have for your family when things are stacked against you.

It makes you think, you know, about your own strength and who you care about.

Proto Credit : Kiran Bhivagade

What did you like when you read the script of this movie?
Something that immediately struck me about the script was its sheer purity. There was no sugarcoating the harsh realities of the Devadasi system and how these people actually live and talk.

What also struck me was the unflinching portrayal of how rich and powerful individuals were deeply entangled in this system, either as participants or by exploiting and taking advantage of it. It felt incredibly direct and raw, and that honesty was powerful.

It's a world where young girls face unimaginable circumstances, and the script didn't shy away from that.
Within that powerful narrative, Mitali's character truly stood out.

As an actor, embodying her forced me to deeply contemplate the resilience of the human spirit, especially in the face of such limited choices.

Her fierce love and quiet strength were so palpable in the writing, making me reflect on my own assumptions.

What was particularly poignant was realizing that the core of their struggles, those conversations about survival, family, and hope, even with different backgrounds and contexts, can be heard in our own surroundings, even here in Mumbai.

What was also so evident throughout the script was the incredible strength and resilience of all the central female characters.

These women were all, in their own ways, forces of nature. Despite their constraints, they exhibited such fierce determination and a deep will to protect each other.

That collective power of womanhood at the core of the story was incredibly compelling and something I deeply admired.

How did you prepare for your role?
Oh, Preparing for Mitali was a real journey, especially since it was my very first film. Honestly, I felt like I was learning everything as I went.

The very first thing was just trying to understand the world she came from. I had to read up and learn about the Devadasi system, especially the powerful roles held by women as heads of the households within this system.

These women often managed the finances and the daily lives within their communities, wielding significant influence.

That was the starting point, just getting my head around this different reality.

I also spent time really focusing on the script, breaking down Mitali's scenes and motivations, trying to understand her inner world.

Meeting my other wonderful co-actors and the whole team during workshops was also so important in building a shared understanding of the story. And of course, having insightful conversations with our visionary director, Konstantin, about Mitali's journey and her significance in the film was invaluable.
Then, I focused on Mitali's physicality and speech, observing online materials and adjusting my rhythm and pace to reflect her background.

The costumes and makeup were also key, and working with those departments helped shape Mitali's look and how I connected with her.

The guidance from the Assistant Directors and my conversations with the entire team and crew on set were immensely helpful in understanding the nuances. It was inspiring to be surrounded by such strong women, both on and off screen.

And it was kind of cool that I got to stay with my co-actors in the same hotel during filming.

We had a lot of fun together, and I think that really helped build the connections you see on screen.

Proto Credit : Kiran Bhivagade

Are you watching during the broadcast?
Unfortunately, I'm not able to watch the broadcast live at this exact moment due to my current commitments here in Mumbai.

I'm following all the updates with great excitement though! I'm already missing being there so much – especially reminiscing about meeting so many talented artists during my incredible experience with 'The Shameless' at Cannes last time.

How is the shooting with Anasuya Sengupta, Omara..... and the director Konstantin Bojanov?
Being on set with Anasuya Sengupta, Omara, and under the insightful guidance of Konstantin Bojanov fostered a truly unique creative space.

It's funny, I first met Omara back in 2022 during a workshop, and little did I know that connection would eventually lead me to 'The Shameless.' Our bond really deepened during the intense shoot, especially since Omara and I were staying on the same hotel floor, sharing so much of our downtime and the entire filming experience.

She's become such a dear friend.
Working alongside Anasuya was like watching a force of nature.

Her complete immersion in her character was mesmerizing and pushed me to elevate my own performance.

Observing her dedication and the distinct artistic choices both she and Omara made was invaluable, particularly as a newcomer.

Connecting with such talented co-actors like Auroshikha Dey, Rohit Koktae, Tanmay Dhananiya, Mihir and the esteemed Mita Vashisth ma’am was also wonderful – we were all staying in the same hotel, creating this real sense of community and support.

And collaborating with Konstantin as a director was incredible; he was so open to our opinions and always made time to discuss anything we needed.

He built this immersive world where every character felt important, and while he had a clear vision, he was also very welcoming to our ideas – a collaborative yet decisive director.

Proto Credit : Kiran Bhivagade

Where is the movie shot?

Filming 'The Shameless' unfolded in two main locations: Mumbai and Nepal. However, the majority of my scenes were actually shot in the captivating city of Kathmandu, Nepal.

We were based there for a significant time, and that immersive experience of living and breathing Kathmandu while bringing 'The Shameless' to life will always be so precious to me.

Oh, and I remember it was so cold for a Mumbai girl during some of those shoot days! I still feel the chill wind while remembering it, hehe.

How long did the shooting?

Based on what I recall, the shooting schedule for 'The Shameless' was about six to seven weeks from Feb end to April end in 2023. It was a pretty intense period as we worked to bring Konstantin's vision to life within that time.

The Shameless has been selected for the Cannes Film Festival 2024 in the "Un Certain Regard" category!
What memory do you have of it?

The whole process of the film being selected for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in the "Un Certain Regard" category is one giant, precious memory that will always stay with my heart, but certain moments shine even brighter.

It felt totally unreal – being way beyond anything I had ever dreamed of. I think we found out about the selection roughly a month before the festival actually started. That period was an absolute whirlwind of adrenaline, trying to sort out visas and really grasp what it even meant to be an official selection, let alone the daunting but exciting prospect of walking the red carpet.

The real weight and beauty of that moment properly sunk in when it finally dawned on me: my movie, my very first film, was an official selection, and I was actually going to see myself on the Cannes screen for the very first time.

That feeling is still hard to articulate – just imagining it even now gives me that same incredible rush!

And For a girl like me who comes from a small city called Bhandara in India, me walking the red carpet at Cannes, made my parents and friends and family so joyous, I can still see the smiles on their faces.

But if I had to pick one of the absolute best memories, it would be the photocall with our director.

That was the first time I'd seen our cast and crew in over a year, and in that moment, everything suddenly felt so real, you know?

And then, of course, walking into the theatre for the screening and seeing that placard with my name on the seat… followed by the overwhelming experience of seeing 'The Shameless' projected onto that iconic Cannes screen.

That was undoubtedly the most unforgettable moment, pure magic that I'll cherish forever.

Proto Credit : Kiran Bhivagade

When and why did you choose to be an actress?
My journey to acting has been a bit unconventional! I started as an engineer, then ventured into entrepreneurship.

The desire to perform was always there, a quiet yearning for the stage, but without any connections to the acting world, I didn't know where to begin.
It wasn't until 2020 that I started taking acting classes, and even then, the pandemic put things on hold. But from 2021 to 2023, I immersed myself in theatre with my Kreating Characters repertoire group.

It was through that experience of exploring stories and embodying different characters on stage that a kind of volcano of passion erupted within me for this creative field.

I realized that this wasn't just a hobby; it was something I could truly do, a constant learning process that I absolutely loved.

The world of screen acting then opened up, and I started auditioning. It's funny, I never consciously chose to be an actress in a specific moment.

It was more like following this growing passion, this need to perform and explore stories, which naturally led me down this path.

And yes, it was only after I had finally saved enough that I found the courage to actually take concrete steps and fully pursue acting as a career.

And trust me, pursuing acting has given me a clarity and opened up a journey of learning about myself that I had never paid attention to before.

Through embodying different characters and exploring various narratives,

I am constantly gaining such a deeper understanding of the world and other people's perspectives on the same situations. It's like this inherent curiosity I've always had for life could only truly be satisfied and explored through the lens of acting – that's the profound feeling it has given me.

What is your next challenge / project?

Fresh off the incredible and rewarding experience with 'The Shameless' at Cannes, my immediate focus has been on navigating some significant personal transitions. Yeah, the 'what's next' question always pops up in acting, doesn't it, hehe! I'm also wrapping up some long-term business stuff, so that's been taking up a lot of my mental space lately. But honestly, I can't stay away from the stage – I do keep doing theatre to keep that spark alive!

That fire to dive into new characters and stories is definitely still burning strong, and fingers crossed, you'll be seeing me on screen again before too long.

I'm starting to look ahead now and really searching for that next opportunity – something that'll not only push me as an actor but also satisfy this constant curiosity I have about the world and different ways of life. I'm really excited to see what kind of cool creative journeys are coming up.

Proto Credit : Kiran Bhivagade

Do you wish to add something ?

Looking back at this entire experience with 'The Shameless,' it's been a wild and amazing ride, you know? From that initial audition, to actually being on set in Nepal, bringing this unique story to life with such a diverse and passionate group – that whole journey felt truly transformative.

And then, to see it get that incredible reception at Cannes? And it touching the hearts of people from all over the world?

Unreal! It's been a profound validation of this path I've chosen. I'm so deeply grateful to our incredible production houses – Akka Films, Urban Sales, and House on Fire Films – for their vision and support, for taking that leap of faith. Working under the insightful direction of Konstantin Bojanov and alongside the incredibly talented cinematographer, Gabriel Lobos, was an absolute honor.

And being in the company of award-winning professionals like our production head, Parul Sondh, and the entire dedicated behind-the-camera team from Nepal, our amazing ADs, the fantastic costume, hair, and makeup teams who created such distinct looks, the brilliant sound and editing teams who crafted the final film, and everyone involved from six different countries who poured their hearts into this project – it was a total privilege.

This film has opened up not just professional doors but also a deeper understanding of storytelling and human connection.

I'm walking away from this with so much gratitude and an even stronger desire to keep exploring complex characters and meaningful narratives. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share a little bit of that journey with you :).

Thank you very much for your interview Kiran I wish you all the best

More information about Kiran on Instagram and on IMDb