Kiara Advani Champions Women Empowerment: Discusses "Satyaprem Ki Katha" at RSIFF Women in Cinema Panel

The versatile and talented Kiara Advani brought her voice to the prestigious Red Sea International Film Festival's (RSIFF) Women in Cinema Panel at the Variety Global Conversations event in Cannes. Joining Salma Abu Deif, Sarocha Chankimha (Freen), Adhwa Fahad, Aseel Omran, and Ramata Toulaye-Sy in a wide-ranging interview with Nick Vivarelli, Kiara shed light on her role as "Katha" in "Satyaprem Ki Katha," a film that resonated deeply with her and sparked important conversations about women empowerment.

Kiara acknowledged her love for romantic films, noting that women tend to gravitate towards intense romantic stories. However, she also expressed her desire to see the genre evolve. Elaborating on the need for fresh narratives, she said, “But here was a story that was different. You know, girl meets boy, and then what? Most of our films are like that. What is the new conflict or the new subject that we've not thrown light on?" For her, "Satyaprem Ki Katha" emerged as a film that resonated with this desire. "When the script came my way, I was blown away because it was so relevant, so topical, and something that we've really suppressed and not shown light in the right sense," Kiara stated.

The film is a pure love story but also tackles the sensitive issue of sexual abuse, telling the story of a young woman who finds healing and rediscovers herself through an arranged marriage, refusing to let the incident define her. Kiara highlighted the social stigma surrounding sexual abuse, particularly towards the victim. "All the feelings that were suppressed, especially in many countries—I won't just say in India—but there's a lot of social stigma. And the way society looks at sexual abuse has for years been repressed, not spoken about. There's so much stigma associated with the person who's gone through it," she said.

Kiara went on to describe her experience and the impact the film had on viewers, stating, "It's probably one of the most powerful stories I've been able to be a part of. The response that we got from so many people who've been through similar instances just felt like their voice was heard. And it truly is a very humbling moment to be a part of something so topical."

Kiara's participation in the Women in Cinema Panel, alongside these accomplished international actresses, signifies the growing global influence of Indian cinema and its focus on portraying strong female characters who challenge societal norms.