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Shweta Basu Prasad, Esha Gupta Champion Women's Role in Cinema at IFFD 2026

Actors Shweta Basu Prasad and Esha Gupta emphasized the crucial and historic contributions of women in cinema at the International Film Festival Delhi 2026. Shweta stressed the importance of celebrating the pioneering female actors, filmmakers, and technicians who paved the way for contemporary creators. Esha Gupta highlighted the innate existence of the female gaze and the need to amplify women's unique storytelling perspectives. The week-long government-led festival aims to make film culture accessible through screenings and discussions across New Delhi.

Key Points: Women's Contribution in Cinema Celebrated at IFFD 2026

  • Celebrating women's historic role in cinema
  • Importance of the female gaze in storytelling
  • Platform for female creators and technicians
  • Week-long festival with screenings and discussions
  • Government-led initiative making film culture accessible
2 min read

Shweta Basu Prasad highlights women's contribution at IFFD 2026

Actors Shweta Basu Prasad & Esha Gupta highlight the decades-long journey and female gaze at the International Film Festival Delhi 2026.

"Female gaze started when the earth was made. - Esha Gupta"

New Delhi, March 25

Actor Shweta Basu Prasad spoke about the role of women and celebrating their contributions in cinema.

While speaking at the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) 2026 (IFFD), Shweta expressed that it has taken decades, to create that path for more female actors and creators and women in cinema.

Shweta said, "It's not overnight, it's taken decades of, you know, female actors or female filmmakers, technicians and thinkers, writers who have actually created that path for more female actors and creators and women in cinema. So I think it's very important for me to celebrate them as much as we are celebrating contemporary women in cinema. And I'm really happy that the first edition of Delhi International Film Festival has this as a theme, along with celebrating everybody who is contributing to cinema."

Actor Esha Gupta spoke about the role of women in cinema, emphasising the significant contributions women have made both on-screen and behind the scenes.

Esha shared her thoughts on the growing influence of the female gaze in modern storytelling at IFFD.

She expressed that women have always had a pivotal role in shaping cinema, adding that the concept of the female gaze has existed since the beginning of time. "Female gaze started when the earth was made," Esha said. "Without women, there wouldn't have been any reproduction or continuity. It's incredible that the IFFD is focusing on this theme because it celebrates the very core of what women bring to cinema."

Esha also highlighted the need to amplify the voices of female storytellers and creators, stressing the importance of offering them a platform to tell their stories from a unique perspective."It's important that women are recognized for their contributions, and I believe festivals like IFFD are the perfect platform to celebrate and encourage their storytelling," she added.

Organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) in association with the Government of Delhi, with KPMG as knowledge partner, the International Film Festival of Delhi is a government-led, city-wide festival showcasing Indian and international cinema while making film culture accessible to audiences across the capital.

The week-long festival, running from March 25 to 31, will offer a series of screenings, discussions, and industry events across various venues in New Delhi, uniting filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences from around the globe.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
Great initiative by the Delhi government. Making film culture accessible is key. Hope they screen regional cinema too, not just Hindi and English. The contribution of women in Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi cinema is immense.
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Aman W
Esha Gupta's point about the "female gaze" is interesting but a bit over the top? "When the earth was made"? 😅 The sentiment is good, but the focus should be on concrete steps - more funding for women directors, equal pay on sets.
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Sarah B
Attending from the US! It's fantastic to see a major festival with this theme. The global film community is watching. Hope this leads to more co-productions and exchanges that highlight diverse female voices from India and abroad.
K
Kavya N
As a film student in Mumbai, this gives me hope. Recognition at festivals like IFFD is crucial. It's not just about actors; we need more female cinematographers, sound designers, and editors getting their due. The behind-the-scenes heroes!
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Vikram M
Good to see this. But let's be real, talk is cheap. How many films by women directors are getting wide theatrical releases? How many female-led scripts get greenlit? The festival is a start, but the industry needs systemic change. More action, less speech.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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