The UK premiere of I’m Not An Actor (Main Actor Nahin Hoon), directed by Aditya Kripalani and starring by acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui alongside Chitrangada Satarupa, will be the opening film for the Bradford International Film Festival (BRADIFF), which returns on Tuesday 28 October 2025. Supported by the Bradford South Asian Festival (BSAF), the screening, at Pictureville Cinema, will be followed by a Q&A hosted by festival Co-Director Aisha Khan (BSAF). With I Am Not An Actor as its opening film, BRADIFF underscores its commitment to presenting bold, boundary-pushing cinema that resonates across cultures and communities.
A India–Germany co-production, this critically acclaimed film has already earned international recognition. Siddiqui won Best Actor at the New York Indian Film Festival earlier this year, while Satarupa received the Best Actor (Female) award and Kripalani a Jury Mention for Best Director at the DC South Asian Film Festival.
Shot live across India and Germany simultaneously for 28 days, I Am Not An Actor is the first of its kind in Indian cinema, placing its two leads in a continuous video call across continents. The result is an intimate, day-long conversation that blurs the boundaries between performance and reality, teacher and student, Mumbai and Frankfurt.
The story follows Mouni Roy (Satarupa), a struggling Mumbai-based actor who dreams of joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Adnan (Siddiqui), a retired banker in Frankfurt grappling with depression. An online audition brings them together, leading to a single day of connection that transforms both their lives. Through shifting roles of teacher and student, and contrasting landscapes of Mumbai and Frankfurt, the film explores human fragility, resilience, and the shared language of performance.
Speaking about the UK Premiere, lead actress Chitrangada Satarupa says: “It is an incredible honour for our film I Am Not an Actor to be chosen as the opening film at the Bradford International Film Festival this year. Bradford is widely regarded as the cultural city of the UK, and that makes this recognition more special. Acting and cinema are such an integral part of the culture I come from in India. Films are celebrated and deeply woven into our lives. So, for a story rooted in that very spirit to open such an esteemed festival feels profoundly meaningful. I am truly excited to see how the people of Bradford connect with the film and experience our story.”
Director Aditya Kripalani shares: “It is a true honour for I Am Not An Actor to open BRADIFF, especially in a year when Bradford celebrates its status as UK City of Culture. Festivals are as much about discovery as they are about celebration, and I look forward to experiencing the diverse films and short titles alongside our own. I am thrilled to be attending with our entire team and sharing this journey with the UK audience.”
Earlier this year the director shared a sneak peek into the film
BRADIFF returns from 28 October to 2 November 2025, following its successful debut last year. Directed jointly by Jan Ruppe and Louisa Rose Mackleston, the festival champions independent filmmakers and places a particular emphasis on Global Majority voices. The 2025 edition will culminate in an awards ceremony celebrating both local and international talent.
Jan Ruppe, Co-Director of Bradford International Film Festival (BRADIFF), says: “We’re thrilled to open Bradford International Film Festival 2025 with the bold and inventive I Am Not An Actor. Thoughtful and amusing in equal measure, this film promises to captivate both our dedicated cinephiles and the wider community, so we’re especially excited to bring it to Bradford audiences.”
Tickets for the BRADIFF premiere are available here: https://bradiff2025.eventive.org/schedule.
I Am Not An Actor is scheduled for UK-wide theatrical release from 7th November 2025.
