Speaking to Subhash K Jha, producer Prerna Arora celebrates and applauds the women of film!
What, according to you, made 2024 special?
Women! Women! And more women!! I mean, look at what our sisters achieved in cinema in 2024. The best films of the year were all directed by women. There was Kiran Rao’s Laapata Ladies, Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls, Shirsha Guha Thakurta’s Do Aur Do Pyaar.. and above all, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light. These are gorgeous films directed by women who know the craft and the emotions. But I must tell you something…
Please do?
All the above made me proud to be a woman and a producer. But the woman that made me the proudest was Payal Kapadia. What she has achieved with All We Imagine As Light is…is…
Unimaginable?
Ha ha, yeah. Her film has gone beyond all expectations. It is being celebrated the world over as not just one of the best films of 2024 but as THE best film of the year. And look at the Golden Globe nominations—wow! Payal Kapadia is hands down the Woman Of The Year.
Which are the other films and performances you enjoyed during the year?
(promptly) Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Citadel: Honey Bunny. As an action hero, she just killed it! I also enjoyed Pushpa 2 and Stree 3 and Bhool Bhulaiya 3. Allu Arjun and Kartik Aaryan are the superstars of 2024.
What are your expectations from 2025?
More Kiran Raos, more Payal Kapadias…more respect for women achievers. Is that too much to hope for? My production Hero Heroine will break some stereotypes on women.
