I wanted to take Hyderabad’s identity with me to Cannes: Mohammad Ali Baig

Actor and theatre personality Mohammad Ali Baig recently attended this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where the trailer of his debut feature film, Chand Tara: The Legend of Taramati, was screened. Set against the backdrop of Hyderabad’s Qutub Shahi history, the film traces the story of Taramati and Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shah.

Describing his experience at Cannes, Baig said the festival was both “overwhelming” and “enriching” for anyone serious about cinema. “It’s a space where filmmakers from across the world come together. You interact with directors, distributors and producers from different countries, and it becomes more than just a film destination. There’s a sense of camaraderie because everyone is sharing their work, ideas and cultural identity,” he said.


He also spoke about choosing traditional Hyderabadi attire for the Cannes red carpet instead of a conventional tuxedo. He wore a grey silk kurta with traditional karchobi embroidery and sequins, paired with a white churidar and a Pochampally silk Ikat stole. “I wanted to represent Hyderabad and Telangana’s heritage with pride. These are styles and fabrics I’ve grown up with, so it felt natural to take them with me to Cannes,” he said.






Reflecting on the changing nature of the Cannes red carpet, Baig said, “In recent years, the red carpet has increasingly become a space dominated by influencers, models and brand promotions rather than filmmakers and actors. Many serious filmmakers today would rather let their work speak for itself than become part of that spectacle.”


“Taking Hyderabad’s history and culture to an international platform was among the most fulfilling aspects of the visit to the Cannes Film Festival,” he concluded.