Exclusive: Payal Kapadia on intimate scenes in All We Imagine as Light

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light has recently released in India. The story of two Malayali nurses was grandly recognized at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, after which fans were expecting it to be a contender for the Oscars 2025. While The Missing Ladies was selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars 2025, All We Imagine as Light remained one of them. Audience favourite.

During an exclusive interview with Filmfare, the director stressed on certain scenes in the film, including a frontal nudity scene. When asked how she initially approached the scene with the actors (Divya Prabha and Kani Kusruti), Payal said, “In that scene, she is using her body to fight an argument. And so she Takes off her top. But she doesn’t have to take it off. It’s not for us to see her, it’s her job to use it that way. She wants to.”

Although the Central Board of Film Certification did not cut this scene from the film, Payal also decided to remove several scenes to keep the film concise. “Yes, unfortunately. You can’t keep everything in the film. I want to shoot many scenes but the film becomes long.”

Opening up further, she talked about the intense love scenes with Anu (Divya Prabha) and Shiaz (Hridu Aaron). He said, “That part of the film is from Anu’s perspective. We are in Anu’s mind and we are experiencing life as Anu. So for me, it was important that she be the center of her state of mind. He is center stage of the scene.” Payal also revealed that she worked with an intimacy coordinator to make those scenes come true. “I worked with a great intimacy coordinator, Naina. She’s also an actress. It was really great to have an intimacy coordinator to create a rapport and a proper relationship between a director and the actors. She came to me with a lot of We discussed the scenes beforehand to make us all comfortable… It’s not about showing anything. It’s not about how we feel. through the eyes and gaze of “Should be from.” He added.

Also see: Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light impresses audiences in France

Concluding, Payal said, “That’s what we were focusing on. I wanted to give that intimate feel to the scenes. I wanted the scenes to be full of love and romance. I didn’t want them to just be about bodies. “Be about.” ,

All We Imagine as Light is currently playing in theaters. It stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridayu Haroon in lead roles.