Before Cameras Roll in India, Shweta Tripathi Takes Her Debut Production to the World Stage, talks about finding space for her script at international platform

For Shweta Tripathi, taking Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan to international film festivals and markets marks an important milestone in her journey as a producer. With her debut feature as a producer travelling from the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026, Shweta is stepping onto the international stage in a new capacity, representing a film she deeply believes in and exploring opportunities for it to reach audiences across the world.

While Shweta has spent years representing stories as an actor, this journey has given her the opportunity to champion a project from a producer’s perspective, engaging with the international film community and exploring the possibilities of collaboration, financing and distribution across markets. For her, taking a film to international platforms is not just about showcasing the project, but also about understanding how independent Indian cinema can travel, find partners and connect with audiences beyond its home market.

“There’s something very special about taking a film you believe in to an international platform, especially when it’s your first feature as a producer. The journey from Berlin to Toronto has been incredibly meaningful for me because it has allowed me to represent Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan in a completely different capacity. You begin to see the film beyond the process of making it and think about the people it could reach, the conversations it could start and the possibilities that lie ahead. It’s been a wonderful learning experience, and I’m excited about what this journey can mean for the film.”

Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sanjoy Nag and featuring Tillotama Shome and Shweta Tripathi, Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan is a queer love story that approaches love and human relationships with honesty and nuance. For Shweta, the opportunity to take the film to international festivals and markets is particularly meaningful given her personal connection to the story and her belief in supporting narratives that deserve to be seen and heard across borders.

Her journey as a producer began in theatre. In 2010, she launched her theatre production company, AllMyTea, with Cock, the queer drama by Olivier Award-winning British playwright Mike Bartlett. Staged again during Pride Month this year, the production marked her return to theatre and reaffirmed her interest in taking ownership of stories she feels strongly about. Her move into feature film production represents a natural extension of that commitment, with the added responsibility of navigating the international film landscape and finding the right opportunities for a project to move forward.

“Producing has made me look at storytelling differently. As an actor, you are deeply involved in bringing a character and a story to life. As a producer, you also have to think about the journey the film takes once it’s made, the people who might come on board, and how you can create opportunities for it to reach its audience. International film festivals and markets bring together people who can help make those possibilities real. Being able to represent my debut production on these platforms has been a significant step for me.”

Her participation at TIFF 2026 was further strengthened by her selection as the recipient of the WIF India x Gold House Scholarship, which enabled her to present Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan at the Gold House Pitch. The opportunity brought the project into conversations with international producers, financiers, executives and industry professionals, allowing Shweta to explore potential partnerships and avenues for the film’s future.

From Berlin to Toronto, the experience has given Shweta an opportunity to build relationships, understand the dynamics of international film markets and represent an independent Indian film within a global filmmaking community. As she continues to balance her work as an actor with her growing ambitions as a producer, she hopes to use these platforms to champion stories she believes in and create opportunities for them to travel further.

For Shweta, Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho Meri Jaan is more than her first feature as a producer; it is the beginning of a journey in which she hopes to take Indian stories to international audiences, build meaningful creative partnerships and help films find their place in the wider world.