Sayani Gupta on Harvard SAA honour: This award belongs to my family

Sayani Gupta was recently honoured as the South Asian Person of the Year by the Harvard University South Asian Association (SAA), a recognition celebrating South Asian excellence and global cultural contribution, awarded to individuals whose work has meaningfully shaped South Asian identity in public life.For the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) alumna, the recognition held deep personal significance. She shares, “The Harvard honour was a once-in-a-lifetime recognition, and the real win for me was the sense of validation it brought to my family. Seeing that pride in the eyes of my mother, aunts, and uncles meant everything. This hit different because I have not witnessed that kind of response to anything I have done before (smiles). Coming from an academic family, where I was raised by teachers and researchers, something like Harvard carries a different meaning. As a child, I was often compared to academically inclined cousins, but I was drawn to creative pursuits like dancing, theatre and elocution, and eventually chose acting. I accepted this award on behalf of the people and the women who raised me. It was their win more than mine.”The response to her Harvard speech turned out to be far more overwhelming than she had anticipated. She shares, “There were people in the audience who were visibly emotional, and many have reached out since asking for a copy. Some even mentioned they would like to screen it in schools in the US, saying younger people should hear it. What makes it even more surprising is that I wrote the speech on my flight to Harvard. The entire experience felt surreal, and the university itself is absolutely stunning.”For the occasion, Sayani also made a conscious style choice that reflected both identity and personal comfort. She says, “Choosing a sari was my mother’s idea. I had something else in mind initially, but it felt right given that it was the South Asian Person of the Year honour. So it was about representation, but I also feel most like myself in a sari. To me, it is one of the most elegant forms of expression. I chose a white or ivory sari with gold work because I naturally gravitate towards white. It felt classic and, most importantly, it felt like me.”The recognition coincided with her directorial debut, Aasmani earning recognition at prestigious film festivals, including the Remi Award at the 59th WorldFest Houston. Recalling the experience, she says, “We were nominated for the Remi Award, which carries a significant legacy. Before the screening, the executive director called me on stage and began unwrapping a large package. I had no idea what was happening until she handed me the Remi for the Special Jury Award. I am not someone who gets emotional easily, but I was overwhelmed and could barely speak. Having my sister travel from New York for the Harvard reception and the Houston screening made the entire experience deeply personal. Those days felt surreal, with back-to-back milestones including Harvard and the Remi Award. We also went on to win the Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film at the Indie Meme Film Festival. I hope this recognition opens some doors, or at least allows me to knock on some.”