MUMBAI: As her film “Dear Men” premieres from Wednesday, actress Sayani Gupta said that the film is a reminder that these stories of human trafficking are not from another time, or another world.
Sayani shared: “Dear Men is a reminder that these stories of human trafficking are not from another time, or another world. They're happening right now, sometimes a few kilometres from where we live, eat, and scroll. As an actor, this role demanded I embody Dipesh's memory, his courage, and into the unspeakable reality that so many girls face.”
She added: “It wasn’t easy. But it felt necessary. Working with Keith was a treat because he's the kind of filmmaker who trusts silences over dialogues, and that trust allowed me to unearth something quieter, more primal.”
The actress hopes the film leaves people with more than empathy.
“I hope it leaves them with questions because that’s where change begins.”
Premiering on "World Day Against Trafficking in Persons", the film is inspired by a true story and based on activist Dipesh Tank’s real-life undercover mission to save trafficked girls.
Based on true events, Dear Men follows an undercover rescue worker who poses as a Bollywood director to infiltrate a remote, lawless village in Bihar.
Inspired by the real-life rescue operation led by Dipesh Tank, a Governor’s Medal-winning activist who went undercover as a filmmaker to rescue two minor girls trafficked into the sex trade, Dear Men takes the camera right into the belly of real-life horror.