By Vanessa Shehu, Staff Writer
While many of us headed home from Bryn Mawr at the end of the 2018–2019 school year, Kareena Mehta ‘22 booked a flight to France to attend the prestigious two-week-long Cannes Film Festival, marking her debut to the world of acting, filmmaking and international recognition. The festival is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that signifies international success in the cinematic arts. For Mehta, however, this achievement was just the start of an incredible career.
A native of Mumbai, India, Mehta starred as the lead in Indian director Sandesh Motwani’s short-film, Shadows, during her first year at Bryn Mawr. The film documents the struggle of Mehta’s character, a young mother who must simultaneously grapple with schizophrenia and the grief of losing her child.
Touching audiences all over the world, Shadows has earned awards and nominations at a number of international film festivals. The film’s most notable feats include the titles of “Best Musical Short Film” at the South Cinematographic Film and Arts Festival (SFAAF) in Chile and “Best Sound Design and Best Original Score for a Short” at the Hollywood North Film Awards. Additionally, the film received official recognition at the Alder International Short Film Festival, the Indie Film Awards, and the Moscow Shorts.
According to Mehta, playing such a heavy role required dedicated preparation and study. ”I conducted months of research about schizophrenia and grief and insisted on portraying conduct or feelings in the short film only once I had actually experienced these through films or through speaking with people that had real-life experiences,” she explained.
In her vow to do justice to Motwani’s creative vision and script, Mehta studied video footage of support groups for grieving mothers and poured over relevant case studies and articles. Mehta admitted to moments of self-frustration and emotional exhaustion as she took on this challenging endeavor, falling into the trap of doubting her skills as an actor and artist.
Despite her fears, Mehta ultimately succeeded in giving a captivating, raw performance; she earned herself and the film multiple nominations and awards across international film festivals. Most notably, Mehta won the prestigious title of “Best Young Actress in a Leading Role” at the SFAAF.
With regards to her journey in stepping into her character’s shoes, Mehta proudly declared that she has grown into a stronger actor and a more humble artist. “I didn’t realize that playing a character meant stripping down your actual identity, confronting your deepest insecurities and making yourself completely vulnerable,” she confided. “[Shadows] taught me that acting is putting aside those egoistic inclinations, and benevolently accepting the fact that the role you’re playing is most crucial in this work of art your creating”.
It was in fact her touching role in Shadows that earned Mehta the opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival. She let The Bi-College News in on the secrets of the Cannes VIP experience, recalling the awe-striking chance to network with renowned artists and fellow cinephiles.
In addition to walking the Red Carpet, Mehta gained a more fond appreciation for the art of filmmaking. “Getting the opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival was a dream,” she said. “I met some of the most incredible cinephiles, actors, directors and influencers; it was amazing talking to such passionate people and hearing the stories that brought them success.” Furthermore, Mehta stressed the importance of film not just as a source of entertainment, but also as a crucial medium for social movements, critiques, and information dissemination.
What is next for Mehta: cinephile, actor, student, artist? The answer lies all in her hands! Mehta possesses a gift that all artists long to achieve in their careers: an emotional connection to her art that transcends a sense of self. In the future, Mehta plans to continue pursuing her dreams as a filmmaker while also working toward her college education in psychology and film at Bryn Mawr.
“I hope to make films that hold the ability to show something new, looking at people and life through alternate and less-discussed perspectives,” Mehta reflected as she shared her awe-inspiring story. “I dream to make films that help us understand human nature, society, morals, values and culture, films that create impact. I’m going to continue exploring different paths in the film-industry till I find my destined career.”
Image credit: Bryn Mawr College
