2001-“Monsoon Wedding“won the golden lion, best film and best director at the Venice film festival. I couldn’t go.

2007-“Gandhi My Father” I won the best actress at the Tokyo film festival. I couldn’t go.

2018- “Once Again” was at Huston, Chicago and German film festivals I couldn’t go.

2019- Delhi Crime Story.

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. The first Indian series to be premiered at the fest. And finally I AM HERE.

Over the years I have been lucky to have been acknowledged and appreciated internationally. But for some reason (and all very valid and important) I couldn’t be there to experience the excitement, the euphoria, the pride attached to it. To watch my creation with my team and an international audience. To hear their comments, to see their reactions. To soar.

But Finally, this time I am here in person representing a project I am extremely proud of. Couldn’t be a more befitting moment for me to be here.

Am I anxious? Am I nervous? Honestly no! Because I am extremely proud of what we created.

And What normally would be my greatest worry when I have to step out in front of an audience is allready taken care of… The huge demand of Looking thin and Dressing up.

I can not begin to thank Sundance enough for holding the festival in Utah,park city. Ofcourse I am gradually turning into a snow woman and may freeze to death, but atleast I dont have the pressure of being immaculately turned out on the red carpet. Here Winter wear is the word. And that means layering to combat hypothermia. Forgiving sweaters and heavy woollens, all of which are in black white or grey so no brainer on that. And snow boots which look like I borrowed them from Neil Armstrong after his mission to the moon. Yes they are ugly as hell. But in life threatening circumstances ugly is allowed.

So am all sorted, my respect and pride not coming from who I wore or what I look like. But rightly so from my work and the character that I proudly want to exhibit. As proudly as “her uniform boasts of her medals”

So it doesn’t matter if there is no designer wear but thick Baggy sweaters, no heels but flat boots,

I still walk tall. Very tall.