Kirti Kulhari Makes Producer Debut With ‘Kinaare’ as Dharamshala Film Festival Unveils Star-Studded Lineup

Acclaimed actor Kirti Kulhari is stepping behind the camera for the first time as a producer with the upcoming feature film “Kinaare” (translated as “Shores”). The feature is set to make its highly anticipated premiere at the 15th edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF). The prestigious festival, a staple of independent cinema in South Asia, will kick off its cinematic celebration with Rima Das’s Berlin-awarded feature, “Not a Hero,” setting a high-caliber tone for the multi-day event.

The 15th edition of the Dharamshala International Film Festival is scheduled to run from October 29 to November 1. As in previous years, the physical events will be hosted at the scenic Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamshala, providing a picturesque backdrop for filmmakers, cinephiles, and industry professionals to gather. To accommodate global audiences and broaden its reach, the festival will follow up the physical screenings with an online edition, running from November 2 to November 9, allowing virtual attendees to experience a curated selection of the festival’s offerings from home.

At the heart of DIFF’s domestic narrative this year is “Kinaare,” a deeply personal project for Kulhari. Written and directed by the filmmaking duo of brothers Akbar Quadri and Azam Quadri, the film features Kulhari in the central role of Amina. Amina is portrayed as a single woman living in a quiet village near Delhi, spending her routine days diligently caring for her elderly parents and maintaining the family home. Her solitary and predictable existence is upended when her cousin, played by co-director Azam Quadri, arrives unannounced after a 15-year absence.

His unexpected visit drags long-buried ghosts into the light, unearthing the profound events that once fractured and split the family apart. However, as the narrative progresses toward his eventual departure, Amina undergoes a transformative journey, ultimately making her peace with the past. The intimate cast is rounded out by Rajeev Siddhartha, Alka Amin, and Ravi Taneja, each bringing depth to the character-driven drama.

Kulhari produced the film through her personal banner, Kintsukuroi Films, partnering with Abhishek Koka and Maansi Guptey, who served as co-producers on the independent venture. The production represents a milestone for Kulhari, who has built a respected career through memorable performances in various acclaimed films and streaming series.

Reflecting on her maiden production venture, Kulhari shared insights into what drew her to the material and why she felt compelled to bring it to life on screen. She noted that the script resonated with her on a profound level, describing it as simple, heartwarming, and remarkably subtle. She drew parallels to Iranian cinema—a cinematic tradition she has long admired—stating that when a script with those delicate qualities landed in her hands, she knew she had to take the leap into production. She emphasized the importance of creative freedom, stating that she wanted to make the film independently, retaining her distinct vision and the collective artistic voice of the team.

Rajeev Siddhartha, who plays a pivotal role alongside Kulhari, echoed her sentiments regarding the artistic integrity of the project. He pointed out that every actor dreams of receiving a script that respects the written word while simultaneously challenging them to explore the unspoken spaces between the lines. Working on “Kinaare” gave him precisely that opportunity. Siddhartha expressed his belief that the film tackles a theme universal enough to touch, move, and subtly transform every viewer from within after they experience the story.

Behind the camera, the film’s creative crew comprises a talented group of technical professionals. Cinematographer Arjun Sundaram captured the atmospheric visuals of the village near Delhi, while composer Mohan Kannan crafted the musical landscape. The editing was handled by Bakul Matiyani, and the intricate sonic environment of the film was shaped by sound designer Sanjay Chaturvedi.

While “Kinaare” marks a major highlight for independent Indian cinema at the festival, the opening night honors belong to “Not a Hero.” The India-Singapore co-production is slated for its South Asia premiere at DIFF, following a celebrated international festival run. The film initially debuted earlier this year at the Berlinale, where it captured a Crystal Bear Special Mention within the Generation Kplus strand. Its momentum continued with a Best Indie Film win at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, alongside screenings at prominent international events in Zlín, Zurich, and Busan.

Directed by Rima Das—a filmmaker renowned for her distinct, naturalistic storytelling style in works like “Village Rockstars,” “Bulbul Can Sing,” “Tora’s Husband,” and “Village Rockstars 2”—“Not a Hero” tells a poignant coming-of-age story. The narrative centers on a young boy who is abruptly packed off from the bustling city to stay at his family’s ancestral village. Placed in a vastly different environment, he crosses paths with a distant aunt, befriends a local horse, and falls in with a pack of neighborhood children. Through these encounters, he discovers a lifestyle far removed from screens and digital devices, ultimately finding a reservoir of inner courage he never knew he possessed. Das’s extensive filmography, which has traveled to over 150 festivals and collected upwards of 75 awards globally, ensures that her latest work remains one of the most anticipated presentations of the festival.

Beyond these prominent titles, the newly announced additions to the DIFF lineup introduce a diverse array of narrative features, documentaries, and short films from various regions and cultures. Don Palathara’s “The Uncertainty Principle” captures the aspirations and struggles of young people in Kochi who are chasing careers in the competitive world of cinema. Meanwhile, “Cool Ladies Club” offers a collaborative documentary perspective, co-directed by Shilpi Gulati alongside ten women from Mumbai’s eastern suburbs who collectively shaped the film over an intensive 18-month period.

The festival slate also embraces international and cross-cultural collaborations. Among them is “Shadowbox,” a Kolkata-set family drama co-directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, which previously debuted at the Berlinale. International additions include Rafael Kapelinski’s Poland-Hungary title “Budapest Diaries” and Eimi Imanishi’s Western Sahara-set feature “Nomad Shadow,” expanding the geographical and thematic breadth of the festival’s programming.

These fresh announcements join an already robust initial lineup revealed earlier by the festival organizers. That initial wave featured notable works such as Gurvinder Singh’s Locarno title “Rehmat,” an India-France co-production that intricately weaves together three distinct stories set in present-day Punjab. Another notable addition is “Termite,” a short film set against the backdrop of 1990s Old Delhi that marks the debut fiction venture of Oscar-nominated documentarian Shaunak Sen. The lineup also boasts international critical darlings like Oliver Laxe’s Cannes-winning feature “Sirāt.”

Further enriching the initial selections are Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s Cannes-debuting Thai family pilgrimage drama “9 Temples to Heaven,” Sara Dosa’s Iceland-set documentary exploration “Time and Water,” and R. Gowtham’s Berlin-bowing grief drama “Members of the Problematic Family.” Music and performance find a place in the schedule with Dennis Harvey and Lars Lovén’s Irish folk music documentary “Celtic Utopia.” Additionally, Samreen Farooqui and Shabani Hassanwalia’s documentary “The Ordinary Star” follows actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui as he studies the real-life occupant of the room he used while shooting “Star,” a segment directed by Dibakar Banerjee for the 2013 anthology film “Bombay Talkies.”

Founded by filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, the Dharamshala International Film Festival continues its tradition of supporting and nurturing emerging cinematic voices. True to this mission, this year’s edition will host its dedicated fellowship program. The program will provide mentorship to seven selected fellows, who will receive guidance from seasoned industry mentors, including Bhutanese director Dechen Roder alongside Indian independent filmmakers Umesh Kulkarni and Dominic Sangma.