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Last month, the makers of Gudgudi, starring Ahsaas Channa, announced a major milestone for the short film after it was officially selected for screening at the Marché du Film segment of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, taking place from May 12 to May 23, 2026. The selection marked a huge global moment for the independent project, placing it on one of cinema’s most prestigious international platforms. For director Manisha K Makwana, the news was emotional and difficult to process at first.
In an exclusive conversation with The Economic Times, Manisha recalled the exact moment she learned about the Cannes selection. “I still remember that moment very clearly. Chirag (distributor) had called Harshvardhan and me, and I was right in the middle of something when the call came in,” she said.
The filmmaker admitted that hearing the news felt surreal. “As soon as I heard the news, it genuinely felt like everything around me just froze for a second. I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing.” She added that the achievement felt bigger than just a personal victory because many people had stood by the film during difficult phases. Calling it a “collective win,” she said the Cannes screening felt like a thank you to everyone who believed in Gudgudi from the beginning.
A deeply personal story born from loneliness: Gudgudi
Gudgudi revolves around a deeply emotional story about loneliness, emotional exhaustion and healing. Manisha shared that the idea came from her own experiences while working at an amusement park years ago.
“I had been carrying this experience inside me for a long time,” she said, explaining that the story emerged from moments of feeling invisible despite being surrounded by people. The filmmaker wanted to explore how a simple shift in perspective can change the way people see themselves and others.
She also admitted that making Gudgudi was emotionally challenging because of the sensitive nature of the subject. However, she eventually decided to trust her instincts and stay honest to the emotional truth of the story.
Despite the emotionally layered character of Ritu, Manisha revealed that she and Ahsaas Channa had very limited time to prepare before filming began. In fact, the two first met just a few hours before the shoot.
Still, the director praised Ahsaas for instinctively understanding the character. “We did have one very honest, heart-to-heart conversation where I tried to give her a window into Ritu’s emotional world,” she quipped. Manisha said Ahsaas absorbed everything intuitively and brought unexpected depth to the role.
She also credited casting director Mukesh Chhabra for helping bring the actor on board. Calling Ahsaas “an incredibly versatile actor,” she said the actress embraced even the toughest parts of the film without hesitation.
The Family Man's Raj & DK’s mentorship became her 'film school’
Before directing Gudgudi, Manisha worked as an assistant director on projects like The Family Man, Farzi and Guns & Gulaabs. Those experiences, she said, shaped her understanding of filmmaking in profound ways.
“I’ve always been a curious person,” she said, adding that working alongside talented technicians and creators taught her the technical and emotional aspects of storytelling. The filmmaker especially spoke warmly about filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K and how they became her "film school".
"I think for a director, it’s important to wear these hats at least once - or at least understand them deeply -because it makes the transition into directing much smoother. Raj & DK’s mentorship became my film school. Their guidance shaped me not just technically, but also in giving me the confidence to become a director myself," she told us.
Representing India at Cannes
As a debut filmmaker representing India at Cannes, Manisha described the moment as deeply meaningful beyond just the glamour of the red carpet. She believes the selection proves that rooted and emotionally honest Indian stories can resonate globally. At the same time, she hopes her journey encourages more young women to enter filmmaking.
“There have definitely been moments in my journey where I’ve felt underestimated,” she admitted, speaking about the challenges women filmmakers still face in the industry. Yet those experiences, she said, only strengthened her confidence in her craft and voice as a storyteller.
For Manisha K Makwana, Gudgudi is not just a Cannes debut. It is the culmination of years of quiet struggles, self-belief and the courage to tell deeply personal stories.
In an exclusive conversation with The Economic Times, Manisha recalled the exact moment she learned about the Cannes selection. “I still remember that moment very clearly. Chirag (distributor) had called Harshvardhan and me, and I was right in the middle of something when the call came in,” she said.
The filmmaker admitted that hearing the news felt surreal. “As soon as I heard the news, it genuinely felt like everything around me just froze for a second. I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing.” She added that the achievement felt bigger than just a personal victory because many people had stood by the film during difficult phases. Calling it a “collective win,” she said the Cannes screening felt like a thank you to everyone who believed in Gudgudi from the beginning.
A deeply personal story born from loneliness: Gudgudi
Gudgudi revolves around a deeply emotional story about loneliness, emotional exhaustion and healing. Manisha shared that the idea came from her own experiences while working at an amusement park years ago.“I had been carrying this experience inside me for a long time,” she said, explaining that the story emerged from moments of feeling invisible despite being surrounded by people. The filmmaker wanted to explore how a simple shift in perspective can change the way people see themselves and others.
She also admitted that making Gudgudi was emotionally challenging because of the sensitive nature of the subject. However, she eventually decided to trust her instincts and stay honest to the emotional truth of the story.
Despite the emotionally layered character of Ritu, Manisha revealed that she and Ahsaas Channa had very limited time to prepare before filming began. In fact, the two first met just a few hours before the shoot.
Still, the director praised Ahsaas for instinctively understanding the character. “We did have one very honest, heart-to-heart conversation where I tried to give her a window into Ritu’s emotional world,” she quipped. Manisha said Ahsaas absorbed everything intuitively and brought unexpected depth to the role.
She also credited casting director Mukesh Chhabra for helping bring the actor on board. Calling Ahsaas “an incredibly versatile actor,” she said the actress embraced even the toughest parts of the film without hesitation.
The Family Man's Raj & DK’s mentorship became her 'film school’
Before directing Gudgudi, Manisha worked as an assistant director on projects like The Family Man, Farzi and Guns & Gulaabs. Those experiences, she said, shaped her understanding of filmmaking in profound ways.“I’ve always been a curious person,” she said, adding that working alongside talented technicians and creators taught her the technical and emotional aspects of storytelling. The filmmaker especially spoke warmly about filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K and how they became her "film school".
"I think for a director, it’s important to wear these hats at least once - or at least understand them deeply -because it makes the transition into directing much smoother. Raj & DK’s mentorship became my film school. Their guidance shaped me not just technically, but also in giving me the confidence to become a director myself," she told us.
Representing India at Cannes
As a debut filmmaker representing India at Cannes, Manisha described the moment as deeply meaningful beyond just the glamour of the red carpet. She believes the selection proves that rooted and emotionally honest Indian stories can resonate globally. At the same time, she hopes her journey encourages more young women to enter filmmaking.“There have definitely been moments in my journey where I’ve felt underestimated,” she admitted, speaking about the challenges women filmmakers still face in the industry. Yet those experiences, she said, only strengthened her confidence in her craft and voice as a storyteller.
For Manisha K Makwana, Gudgudi is not just a Cannes debut. It is the culmination of years of quiet struggles, self-belief and the courage to tell deeply personal stories.
