11-08-2025
Why stories and awards find film producer Guneet Monga Kapoor
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated August 18, 2025)Q. Where were you when you got news of the National Award?I was in a narration with Tahira Kashyap Khurrana and initially I couldn't believe it. It took a long time for it to sink in that Kathal won Best Hindi Feature. It's a huge honour. Very often it feels like in our fast-paced world, there is no space for storytelling that takes its time to unfold. Kathal is all about 'thehraav' [pause].advertisementQ. What do you remember about Yashowardhan Mishra pitching this film to you?
I love the way Yashowardhan works. Kathal wasn't written in an airconditioned home in Mumbai and it shows. He belongs to a village in Chhattisgarh and he spent months on ground doing so much research for this film. When he narrated to me, it was almost like a stand-up routine. I am very excited about working with him on his next.Q. Have your reasons for backing a film evolved over the years?Storytelling on this large scale is the best way to communicate with the masses. I've always had a child-like fascination for how movies are made and that hasn't changed in all of these years. I really believe that stories find me instead of me going out to look for them. At our production house Sikhya, we are in service to a story and it's our responsibility to present it in its best form and most authentically.Q. You launched the India chapter of the Women in Film fellowship this year. Why is this important for you?The stats paint a very sad picture—less than 3% of our directors are women and overall, women make up for less than 10% across all departments of filmmaking, be it writing, editing or cinematography. We need to upskill more and create opportunities for women so things can to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
