Hindi
After TIFF, Ayush Mehra to make his debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival
Mumbai: Ayush Mehra, the dynamic actor renowned for his captivating performances in both digital and cinematic realms, is all set to make his debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2024, representing the vibrant Actors’ community of India. With an illustrious journey that spans from OTT web shows to movies, and now to the grand stage of Cannes, Ayush Mehra continues to redefine the contours of Indian entertainment on a global scale.
Making a red carpet debut at Cannes 2024, actor Ayush Mehra aims to showcase his unwavering support to the films and cinema across the globe at the French Riviera. Working with a fresh vision for Cannes in terms of fashion, Ayush has collaborated with a new-age stylist Kudrat Anand and is slated to be at the Mecca of cinema between 15th to 20th May.
Speaking about going to the global platform and making a debut at Cannes, Ayush expressed his gratitude and said, “Growing up immersed in the enchanting world of cinema, movies have been my constant companion and inspiration. It’s a stroke of luck to witness this world firsthand, and attending Cannes is an extraordinary privilege. I’m immensely proud that several Indian films like Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light”, and Sandhya Suri’s “Santosh” have made it to the competition, as well as legendary actor Smita Patil’s “Manthan” being screened there, showcases the depth and diversity of our cinema on a global platform.”
“Moreover, to walk the same red carpet as legends like Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Meryl Streep, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Miller is beyond surreal. As I prepare to delve into countless screenings, connect with fellow filmmakers from around the world, and revel in the magic of cinema, I’m filled with genuine gratitude and humility for this incredible opportunity to represent India’s thriving acting community,” he added.
Starting from behind-the-scenes in films like ‘O Teri!’ and ‘URI: The Surgical Strike’, Ayush progressed steadily, showcasing his dedication and artistic evolution, resulting in his standout performance in the globally lauded “Kacchey Limbu” which got international recognition and was screened at three film festivals, i.e., the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, the World Film Festival of Bangkok, and the International Film Festival of Kerala, cementing a worldwide recognition for the actor.
Starting as the modern-day chocolate boy and ‘Ad Boy’ of India, Ayush’s transition from the digital sphere to mainstream cinema has been seamless, with notable appearances in popular OTT web shows like “Minus One”, “Please Find Attached”, and the Netflix sensation “Call My Agent – Bollywood”, where he shared screen space with industry luminaries like Dia Mirza, Soni Razdan, Lara Dutta, Ali Fazal, and Richa Chadha.
As he prepares to grace the global platform with the illustrious Cannes Film Festival, Ayush carries with him the hopes and aspirations of an entire industry. His presence on this global stage not only celebrates the burgeoning talent of Indian cinema but also underscores the growing influence of Indian actors on the world stage.
Hindi
Remembering Gyan Sahay, the lens behind film, television and advertising
From a puppet rabbit selling poppadums to Hindi cinema, he framed it all.
MUMBAI: There are careers, and then there are canvases. Gyan Sahay, the veteran cinematographer, director, and producer who passed away on 10 March 2026 in Mumbai, had one of the latter. Over several decades in the Indian film and television industry, he turned lenses, lights, and the occasional puppet rabbit into something approaching art.
A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sahay built his reputation as a director of photography across a career that stretched from the early 1970s all the way to the digital age. He was the kind of craftsman who understood that a well-composed shot is not merely a technical achievement but a quiet act of storytelling.
For most Indians of a certain age, however, Sahay will forever be the man behind the rabbit. His direction of the iconic long-running television commercial for Lijjat Papad, featuring its now-legendary puppet bunny, gave the country one of its most cheerfully persistent advertising images. It was the sort of work that sneaks into the national subconscious and takes up permanent residence.
His big-screen credits as cinematographer include Anokhi Pehchan (1972), Pagli (1974), Pas de Deux (1981), and Hum Farishte Nahin (1988). In 1999, he stepped behind a different kind of camera altogether, making his directorial debut with Sar Ankhon Par, a drama that featured Vikas Bhalla and Shruti Ulfat, with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan for good measure.
On television, Sahay was particularly prized for his command of multi-camera production setups, a skill that made him a go-to technician for large-scale shows and reality programmes. In an industry that has never been especially patient with complexity, he was the calm hand on the rig.
In later life, Sahay turned teacher. He participated regularly in masterclasses and Digi-Talks, often hosted by organisations such as Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, sharing hard-won wisdom on cinematography, the comedy of timing in a shot, and the sweeping changes brought by the shift from celluloid to digital. He was also said to have been involved in a project concerning a biographical film on Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
Tributes from the film industry poured in following the news of his passing, with colleagues remembering him as a senior cameraman who served as a rare bridge between two entirely different eras of Indian cinema. That is, perhaps, the finest thing one can say of any craftsman: he kept up, and he brought others along with him.
