It’s that time of the year when filmmakers and actors across the world will travel to Cannes to talk craft and cinema. Auroshikha Dey, who portrayed Jhalkari Bai in The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019), is thrilled to take her next, The Shameless, to the prestigious film festival that kicks off on May 14. Bulgarian-American director Konstantin Bojanov’s film will première in the UnCertain Regard section. 

The Shameless tells the story of a young woman, essayed by Anasuya Sengupta, who escapes from a brothel in Delhi and seeks refuge in a community of sex workers. Dey recalls landing the role of the fiery Durva after a screen test. “Bojanov sir appreciated my audition, which led to my casting. Durva is confrontational and focused on securing her day-to-day livelihood. Bojanov sir meticulously outlined the character sketch. We also had workshops that helped me define the character’s tone,” she recalls.