Rana Daggubati on distributing the Sundance winner Sabar Bonda, “The honesty of telling a story was unparalleled when the first time we saw it”

By Subhash K. Jha -

September 18, 2025 - 3:45 PM IST

Star actor Rana Daggubati is distributing the acclaimed Marathi film Sabar Bonda (English title: Cactus Pears) through his company Spirit Media. Written and directed by Rohan Kanawade, the movie made history by winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It is releasing in theatres tomorrow September 19.

Rana Daggubati on distributing the Sundance winner Sabar Bonda, “The honesty of telling a story was unparalleled when the first time we saw it”

What made you back a film like Sabar Bonda?
What made me back a film like Sabar Bonda? Well, the honesty of telling a story was unparalleled when the first time we saw it. I think director Rohan Parashuram (Kanawade)’s craft of understanding humans, understanding the milieu was so impressive that we wanted to find a way to release this and get it to the audience.

Do you feel that smaller but significant Indie films need to be nurtured by someone like you who has the power to do so?
Well, I'd love it if many more filmmakers come and do this who are in the mainstream world and yet championing cinema like this. But again, it comes to me from a personal choice, because I enjoyed watching these type of films when I was growing up. And I thought it was important to show the audience the same. And see, commercial cinema already has a certain fixed format that it follows, whether it's of promotion of release of audiences, and getting to know them. But I think it's a slightly bigger challenge or a bigger mountain to climb when cinema is slightly more alternative. But the fact that these films are going abroad winning awards across the globe should mean for something.

As an actor, would you be willing to do something as unconventional as a Sabar Bonda?
Well, definitely, if I was cast in a film that gives me something unique to play, I definitely would be part of it.

How would you view your journey first as an actor and now as a producer?
I don't know, I don't see one and the other as separated. I started my career in the movies by doing visual effects, and then production, and then being an actor. And then now I'm distributing and doing other things. So, I guess in this ocean of cinema, I'll keep doing something or the other all the time. And I enjoy all of them pretty much equally.

Do you feel that films that are routinely offered to you are unable to do full justice to your talent?
Well, interesting question. I know I have made certain unique choices as to how I'd like to be in cinema. I think every day you're learning and wanting to find something new. And the best is always yet to come. And that's how life goes on.

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