Shot in Nepal, The Shameless is a film by Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov, inspired by Scottish writer William Dalrymple's novel, Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India.
Anasuya Sengupta's portrayal of Renuka earned her the Best Actress award in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Renuka's story is gripping: she escapes a Delhi brothel after a deadly altercation with a policeman and finds sanctuary among sex workers in northern India. Here, she meets Devika, a young girl ensnared in the life of prostitution, sparking a forbidden romance.
In her acceptance speech, Anasuya dedicated her award to Queer communities and all marginalised communities for fighting a fight they shouldn't have to.
Anasuya believes in the heightened need for meaningful representation and is hopeful the world is changing.
A complicated woman character is really just a character, you know? I think we need more of that. And not only do we need more of that worldwide, more so for women of colour, for marginalised groups. I want to see more of that as a viewer, as a reader, and I feel optimistic and hopeful, because I do think there's more spectacular roles that are being written. There's a lot more women in the forefront. I wish it was even faster. But it's happening.Anasuya Sengupta on the changing landscape of global cinema
Anasuya is refreshing and open, bringing a wealth of critical insights on why a story matters the most —transcending borders, language, and people.
Tap the audio player to listen to the full interview.
The photo of Anasuya Sengupta used in our header graphic is courtesy of Upahar Biswas.
SBS Spice breaks new ground with English-language content for young South Asians in Australia by exploring what makes us tick or ick. Find us on your podcast apps such as the SBS Audio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or LiSTNR and follow us on Instagram @SBSSpice.
