“Lovers in the Blue Night”, interview with director Anuparna Roy and actress Neelima Sharma

During the Venice Film Festival 2026 we spoke with director Anuparna Roy and actress Neelima Sharma for the film Lovers in the Blue Night, which was presented in the Orizzonti section of the Festival. The directors returns to Venice after winning the Best Director Prize in the Orizzonti section last year, with the film Song of the Forgotten Trees. Continuing the exploration of the themes of migration, identity, and desire in her new feature as well, this time through the stories of four characters navigating life in a rapidly changing India.

The interview

During our interview on FRED Film Radio, director Anuparna Roy explains that her new film Lovers in the Blue Night marks a thematic evolution from her previous work, focusing on the internal and external journeys of her characters. While her earlier film was indeed set within the confines of a cramped Mumbai apartment, this new work takes viewers into the bustling city streets, following multiple characters in transit and emphasizing that migration is a political act, driven by the desire for dignity and personal freedom

Director Anuparna Roy also agrees that her latest film shares a thematic link with her previous project, Songs of Forgotten Trees, by examining the city and migration, describing the characters here as seeking to live authentically, fighting against societal constraints to find their own space and identity. For her, portraying these personal battles was more important than depicting the city as a mere backdrop.

Neelima Sharma added reflecting on her character, who in Lovers in the Blue Night embodies the universal human craving for love and acceptance. She shares that her own experience of living in Mumbai for three years resonated deeply with her role, as she, like her character, is still searching for her place. Anuparna Roy added that the film explores the daring to desire, especially for working-class characters who are often denied the same rights to love and self-expression as others, highlighting that her own background influenced her storytelling as well, aiming to portray the characters’ inner struggles with empathy and authenticity.

Plot