Payal Kapadia On Pushing 'All We Imagine As Light' For Oscars: 'All This Is Very New...' | Exclusive

When Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies was announced as India’s official entry to the Oscars this September, it left the internet divided. While some rejoiced at the news, others felt that Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light was more deserving. Earlier, while speaking to us, Chhaya Kadam, who features in both films, had said that though she’s happy with the feat Laapataa Ladies has achieved, she had expected All We Imagine As Light to make it to the Oscars race.

Now, in an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Payal reveals that she’s extremely happy for Kiran and her team. “I really like Laapataa Ladies. I was very happy when they became India’s official entry to the Oscars. I was especially happy for Chhaya ji because I truly believe that this was her year. I was thrilled to see her and the amazing crew of Laapataa Ladies shine,” she tells us.

Recently, in an interview with AFP, Kiran expressed her thoughts on Payal’s film and stated that All We Imagine As Light has the potential to win not only Best Foreign Film but also Best Picture at the Oscars. Reacting to her statement, Payal smiles and says, “I don’t know about all that. But it’s going to release in the USA on November 15. I really hope it goes well and people go to watch it. And as for Kiran, I really loved her first film, Dhobi Ghat, a lot. It’s a Mumbai film and a very important one for me.”

But did she have any plans on pushing her screenplay independently for the Oscars? “All this is very new to me. The fact that All We Imagine As Light was selected for Cannes and won a prize is a bonus. When you take so long to make a film, you’re just happy that you managed to make it. Everything that’s coming my way is truly a bonus. I’m very satisfied with the journey my film has had. We met so many great people along the way and that has been very nice,” remarks Payal.

Another thing that brings her joy is the flurry of films by women that gained global attention this year. Payal says, “It’s a good precedent we’ve set. There are so many great female filmmakers. Kiran made Laapataa Ladies, Shuchi (Talati) made Girls Will Be Girls, and Sandhya Suri made Santosh. And there’s Rima Das, who has made a new film (Village Rockstars 2), which I’m very excited about. She’s an amazing and very inspiring director. What a great year this has been!”

However, Payal is quick to add that the road ahead is still long when it comes to women in cinema. “I still think that there’s a lot of work to be done. We need more women in all departments, whether it’s camera, sound, or production. We need more representation. This is just the start. I’m also a part of a long process that’s set to take place and I feel lucky about it. We still have a very long way to go,” she shares.