Javed Akhtar praises Payal Kapadia for her historic Cannes win: 'Shabana and I will love to host you for a meal'

Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has praised filmmaker Payal Kapadia following her historic victory at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Kapadia's debut feature film, All We Imagine As Light, won the prestigious Grand Prix award in the Cannes Critics' Week section, a momentous achievement for Indian cinema on the global stage.

Akhtar, who is known for his profound contributions to Indian art and culture, expressed his joy and pride in Payal's accomplishment. In a heartfelt post, he wrote, "Dear Payal Kapadia, heartiest congratulations to you. It is a great achievement. Very, very proud of you. Do get in touch whenever you are in Mumbai. Shabana and I will love to host you for a meal."



The win has garnered congratulations from other Bollywood stars like Alia Bhatt, Ali Fazal, Kiara Advani, Aditi Rao Hydari, Farhan Akhtar and Tillotama Shome among others took to social media to celebrate the film's success. Malayalam actor and producer Tovino Thomas, along with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, also extended their congratulations to Payal Kapadia, highlighting the significance of her milestone for Indian cinema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also congratulated the director.




All We Imagine As Light premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the competition section on May 23, making it the first Indian film in 30 years to be featured in this prestigious category. The last Indian film to compete was Shaji N Karun's Swaham in 1994.

Hailing her win, PM Modi had shared, "India is proud of Payal Kapadia for her historic feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her work ‘All We Imagine as Light’. An alumnus of FTII, her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in India. This prestigious accolade not only honors her exceptional skills but also inspires a new generation of Indian filmmakers."