As the global film fraternity gears up for the Cannes Film Festival 2026, Bengali filmmaker Indira Dhar is set to attend the festival for the third time. Over the past few years, Cannes has become an important space for her work.

Dhar first made her presence felt at Cannes with her film Putul, which was also part of the Oscars conversation. The film had a theatrical screening at the Marché du Film, placing her work in front of a global audience. One of the key highlights from Putul was its music. The song Iti Maa was considered in both the Best Original Song and Best Original Score categories at the Oscars 2025. Composer Sayan Ganguly, who worked on the film, became the only composer from Bengal to receive two Oscar nominations for the same project, with Iti Maa also becoming the only Bengali song to be selected in the music categories that year.

Last year, Dhar returned to Cannes to launch Echoes of Valour, a collaboration between India and South Africa. The film was backed by Shekhar Kapur and produced by Arden Slate along with Dhar’s own banner, IKA Studios (Indira and Kabir Studios), her Oscar-recognised production house. Developed through the Cannes market, the film stars Divya Dutta and Neeraj Kabi.

This year, Dhar’s visit to Cannes is focused on two things. She will continue to take Echoes of Valour forward, while also working on her new film, Marked.

Produced under her banner, IKA Studios, Marked deals with the issue of drugs and their impact on young people. The film aims to speak to a global audience, with a message that encourages awareness and hope.

Sayan Ganguly, who worked on Putul, is also composing the music and background score for Marked, continuing his collaboration with Dhar. Apart from her films, Dhar is also part of conversations around cinema at an international level. After speaking at the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Film Festival last year on films and AI, she will now be one of the speakers at the Indian Pavilion at Cannes 2026.

With each visit, Indira Dhar’s presence at Cannes has grown stronger, moving from showcasing her work to building collaborations and now contributing to larger industry discussions.

Also Read: Cover Story: Arjun Tanwar on his Cannes debut, Bollywood obsession and singing career

Veteran actor Saira Banu recently penned an emotional note after Hema Malini visited her. The note reflected on their decades-long bond and the memories they continue to share.

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Saira wrote, “It does not feel so long ago that Hema had come to see me at my home, accompanied by her cousin Prabha… and yet, when I heard that she’s coming again… my heart was happy.”

She continued recollecting, “When she entered, she looked just as graceful, and in that instant, I was taken back to the very first time I met her in 1966, on the sets of Deewana with Raj Kapoor. Even then, I remember, I was quite simply mesmerised by her beauty there is no other word that feels as true.”

Recalling their meetings, Saira Banu shared, “After that, we met a few times again, and I find my thoughts returning most fondly to our days at the Krishna Raj Sagar Dam. Our rooms were next to each other, which meant our days, quite naturally, became shared. We would sit for hours in the verandah, speaking of everything that came to mind, beauty, skin care, little routines, matters that felt so important then, and perhaps were, in their own gentle way. Our mothers were with us too, and would often join, adding something wiser, something steadier, to our easy, unguarded conversations.”

She added, “And yet, what moves me most is not merely the memory of those moments, but how little, in essence, has changed. Some friendships do not ask to be maintained, they simply endure. With her, there is no effort, no need to explain or revisit. There is only understanding, a familiarity that time, in all its passing, has not diminished. And somewhere in those thoughts, I found myself thinking of Dharmendra ji, of his warmth, of the sincerity with which he held his affections. The love and regard he had for Dilip sahib was never something he needed to declare; it was understood, in the way he spoke of him, with a respect that came from somewhere very deep.”

Saira concluded, “Some bonds, I feel, are like that. They do not announce themselves. They are simply lived, over years, in ways both seen and unseen. And in moments like these, one realises not everything that is precious belongs to the past. Some of it remains with us still.”

Also Read: Saira Banu Pays a Tribute to Dilip Kumar on His Birth Anniversary

Babil Khan is back on set and that has filled his heart with gratitude. As the actor begins the second schedule of shooting for his next project, Babil took to social media to share a heartfelt message with his audience. He shared about the love for his craft and the people who continue to support him.

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He wrote, “As I start the 2nd schedule of shooting, I would like to take a moment to let you know that I love you and acknowledge how much your love means to me. I work my bum off so that every second you spend watching me is worth it. Hope to see you from your screens very soon.”

The note captured Babil’s emotional connection with his audience, while also highlighting the immense dedication he pours into his work. His return to set for a brand-new project signals an exciting new phase for him. Even as details around the project remain under wraps, this professional update has generated excitement among fans who have eagerly await his next on-screen chapter.

This also comes a year after Babil had actively discussed about briefly leaving social media. In an emotional video, Babil had noted that “demons left me with deep cuts, insomnia, and panic.” With the second schedule now underway, Babil is back doing what he loves most, telling stories and audiences can expect to see that passion unfold on their screens very soon.

In other news, while speaking to Filmfare a year back, Babil had fondly remembered his father Irrfan Khan. He opened up how he wants to create a legacy that would honour his father. “I have my mother’s eyes and my father’s eyebags,” he also shared, jokingly. Fans also remembered Irrfan Khan on his death anniversary on April 29.

Also Read: Tabu’s Special Eid Gift for Babil Khan