World Premiere of "I'm Not an Actor" Announced at Cinequest Film Festival
Mumba Devi Motion Pictures' upcoming feature film, "I'm Not an Actor" ("Main Actor Nahin Hoon"), starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Satarupa, will make its world premiere at the 2025 Cinequest Film Festival in California this March.
Directed by Aditya Kripalani, this Hindi and English-language drama follows a Mumbai-based actor who reluctantly mentors a recently retired banker in Frankfurt via video calls. The film was uniquely shot simultaneously across India and Germany over 28 days, with the lead actors performing their scenes live on video chat despite challenging weather conditions and a significant time difference.
Kripalani's unconventional approach aimed to capture authentic video call interactions. "The film revolves around a day-long conversation across two countries," he explained. "We wanted to recreate the sense of immediacy felt during real-world video calls, breaking down the separation between the screen and the characters."
The film explores themes of societal labeling and the shared humanity beneath superficial identities. Siddiqui, serving as a producer, was drawn to the role's novelty: "This script was unlike anything I've seen before."
Despite the ambitious production method, the film faced challenges due to its intercontinental live shooting approach. Siddiqui encountered freezing temperatures in Frankfurt, while extreme heat in Mumbai caused technical difficulties.
Following its world premiere, "I'm Not an Actor" will embark on a series of European, U.K., and Asian premieres, culminating in a limited theatrical release in India and subsequent streaming platform distribution.
Produced by Sweta Chhabria, "I'm Not an Actor" marks Mumba Devi Motion Pictures' latest socially conscious feature, building upon their success with award-winning films like "Devi Aur Hero" and "Not Today."