1 / 9 From the New York Indian Film Festival to Cannes, International film festivals have introduced and given recognition to various fresh faces, celebrated bold performances, and opened international doors for talent that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. So, from Radhika Apte to Adarsh Gourav, here are 8 celebrities whose careers kick-started through global film festivals.
2 / 9 Nawazuddin Siddiqui - Nawazuddin’s journey from character roles to international acclaim owes much to The Lunchbox, which premiered at Cannes. The film’s global success made him a festival darling and expanded his recognition far beyond Indian cinema.
3 / 9 Radhika Apte - Radhika Apte’s performance in Parched gained her international recognition. She has built a reputation as an actor who can seamlessly cross between Indian indie cinema and global OTT platforms.
4 / 9 Ankit Siwach - Ankit’s indie film Madam Driver made it to the New York Indian Film Festival, putting him on the international map. Known first for his television work and later for the web series Kull, the festival recognition made Siwach a notable name in the industry.
5 / 9 Rajkummar Rao - Rajkummar Rao’s Newton premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won a prestigious award. This recognition not only spotlighted him as an actor but also established his status as India’s most versatile performer.
6 / 9 Kani Kusruti - Kani Kusruti is a talented actress who has showcased her talent in many popular Malayalam films; however, her international breakthrough came with Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, where Kusruti played the role of Nurse Prabha. The film became the first Indian movie in 30 years to win the Grand Prix award.
7 / 9 Vicky Kaushal - Vicky Kaushal received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Deepak Kumar in Neeraj Ghaywan’s 2015 film Masaan. The film performed fantastically and received multiple awards the the Cannes Film Festival 2015, kickstarting Kaushal’s successful career.
8 / 9 Preeti Panigrahi - Preeti Panigrahi is an Indian actress who starred in the 2024 film Girls Will Be Girls. She received the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for her performance as a high school student navigating the complexities of adolescence and societal expectations.
9 / 9 Adarsh Gourav - Adarsh Gourav’s breakthrough came with The White Tiger, which premiered on Netflix. His portrayal of Balram Halwai not only earned him a BAFTA nomination but also established him as one of the most exciting young actors from India.