When director Vinod Kapri cast two villagers from Berinag Tehsil in Pithoragarh for his film Pyre, he knew it was a gamble. But today, his conviction has paid off as leads Padam Singh and Heera Devi, both of whom had never acted before, have been nominated in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories of the 25th New York Indian Film Festival Awards. “I had to pinch myself to believe it,” marvels Kapri, before adding, “It’s an honour for the film. That two elderly people, who have never acted before, have been nominated in the acting categories in an international festival is a validation of my conviction.”  

Vinod Kapri