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Stories Beyond the Screen: Seema Kapoor’s Autobiographical Dialogue Highlights Day 3 of RIFF 2026

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A Day Dedicated to Rajasthani Cinema : A Celebration of Rajasthani Stories, Voices and Cultural Identity

The third day of the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) 2026 was marked by introspection, cultural dialogue, and literary reflection as a special discussion was held on filmmaker Seema Kapoor’s autobiography “Yun Guzri Ab Tak.”

Moderated by RIFF Co-Founder and Festival Director Anshu Harsh, the session saw Seema Kapoor candidly sharing her life journey, creative struggles, and spiritual evolution.

Kapoor revealed that the book was not an impulsive decision but the culmination of years of lived experiences. She spoke openly about her early struggles, recalling a time when even meeting daily necessities was a challenge. “This book is an honest account of my real journey,” she said, adding that truth carries its own dignity and self-respect.

Reflecting on her spiritual search, she emphasized that self-discovery is never complete it is a continuous process. Sharing memories of her childhood in a theatre family, she recounted how her father’s theatre company toured villages across Rajasthan. With the rise of cinema post-1969, traditional theatre companies began to decline, and her family eventually settled in Bhawanimandi, Rajasthan.

She also spoke about her long personal and creative journey alongside late actor Om Puri, describing the years from 1979 to 2017 as deeply transformative. She fondly mentioned her brother Ranjit Kapoor as well.

On women’s empowerment, Kapoor asserted that women must prove their capability at every level. She stressed the importance of economic and intellectual independence, while underlining the need to maintain balance between freedom and recklessness. According to her, true freedom strengthens society, whereas irresponsibility weakens it.

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where she answered audience questions with remarkable honesty.

Regional Languages, Challenges and the Future of Rajasthani Cinema

An Open Forum held at Miraj Cinemas, Blue City Mall, focused on “Cinema: Regional Languages and the Identity, Future and Challenges of Rajasthani Language.”

Prominent voices from cinema, OTT, and content industries gathered to deliberate on strengthening Rajasthani language across film and digital platforms.

Satish Poonia expressed concern over the gradual erosion of folk languages and cultural identity in the face of rapid modernization. He commended RIFF for creating a platform that connects younger generations to their roots and emphasized that art and culture are not merely commercial ventures but the soul of society.

Renu Rana, Content Head – Rajasthan at STAGE OTT, shared her personal connection to Rajasthani cinema, recalling that the regional film industry once stood among India’s earliest thriving regional sectors. Through digital platforms like STAGE, she believes the dream of reviving Rajasthani cinema is gaining momentum by offering opportunities to new artists and theatre performers.

Writer-director Pankaj Tanwar stressed the importance of perseverance and self-reflection in the content industry. “If a film or song does not reach the audience, we must analyze why and improve ourselves. The audience is the ultimate benchmark,” he said.

Filmmaker Kapil Tanwar spoke about consciously incorporating Rajasthani folk music into his short film. Instead of opting for mainstream Bollywood sounds, he collaborated with music director Ajay Soni to include a traditional Ghoomar composition. Though risky, he called the experiment successful and reaffirmed his commitment to local instruments and folk-rooted storytelling.

Rishi Singh Sisodia, Founder of Rishi Entertainment (T-Series), highlighted that strong music, visual presentation, and strategic promotion are essential to preserving Rajasthani songs’ identity. Without effective promotion, even good music struggles to reach audiences.

RIFF Founder and Festival Director Somendra Harsh passionately advocated for the preservation of the Rajasthani language. While acknowledging the importance of English in professional life, he urged people to speak their mother tongue at home and in social spaces.

“Only if we continue to use our language today will it survive for the next generation,” he said. Despite the presence of international delegates, he confidently addressed the gathering in Rajasthani and shared his vision of screening more Rajasthani films in future editions.