Nandinee Khosla, an actor and theatre play writer, is adding another feather to her cap with her Cannes debut this year.
Right from her school days, Nandinee Khosla has always been a performer at heart. Having grown up immersed in street plays, annual day performances, and eventually earning distinction in speech and drama from Trinity College London, her artistic roots run deep. Over the years she has acted in 12 plays so far with multiple shows across various cities and she has also written and produced her own play ‘Veda Factory’ just last year. Now, in 2025, she celebrates a major milestone with the official selection of her debut screen performance, The Second Wind, at the Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Indira Baikerekar, The Second Wind is a story of resilience of four women who find a second chance at life through sports. This film itself came as a second chance to Khosla as when she heard about the part, she was recovering from an unexpected injury. She took it as a second shot at doing what she loves and got her creative wheels churning back again!
Here’s what she had to share about the film and what her process was like during filming!
What was your first reaction when you found out The Second Wind was officially selected at the Cannes Film Festival?
I was just numb for the first few seconds. I remember actually confirming with my producer multiple times if she actually said Cannes and she also jokingly went like "Haan baba wahi Aishwarya wala Cannes." It honestly seemed like such a farfetched dream that it took a while for me to process this news; a part of me is still processing it.
What does it mean to you to walk the red carpet at Cannes for this project?
I’m finding myself very nervous. Cannes red carpet is globally one of the most prestigious red carpets an actor could walk on. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been following all the looks every single year. Today I get to walk the same red carpet, I don’t think I can believe it until I’m actually there. I’m really looking forward to what this moment has in store for me. I want to completely take in experiencing an opportunity that doesn’t come around that often. This is going to be something that I cherish lifelong!
The Second Wind is such a unique and heartfelt story. Initially, what drew you to this film?
I wanted to make sure that in some small way I was a part of that journey as well. Also the fact that real women were portraying their own stories on screen was so unique and refreshing. No extra drama or added mirch-masala! The very authenticity and simplicity of such films are a rarity to find in today’s fast-paced life.
How has your theatre background influenced your work on screen for this film?
It's the reason I’ve become the actor that I am today. The reason I was able to be so confident on set despite this being my first film is because I’m used to performing live in front of a crowd of 400-500 people. However one big change for me was that since I was used to one take on stage, I would give this long monologue a certain way and get done, and then on the cut my AD would be like "great now do that again from another angle". But I adapted to this change quickly and started enjoying the technicalities of performing in front of the camera.
Without giving away too much, can you tell us a bit about your character in the film?
Mona is a college student who is struggling to deal with her emotions and her parents’ failed marriage. Through the film, we see her evolve and take charge of her own life and try to mend the scattered relationships in her life.
How was it working with Indira Baikerikar, the director? What was her vision like on set?
This has been my 5th collaboration with Indira Baikerekar. We have been working together since our theatre days which is why this was an extremely comfortable equation for both of us. I have been directed by her in our previous play as well; she is an extremely easy going director. She really respects the creative vision of an actor by allowing them to take charge of their character completely. She gave me all the freedom to interpret Mona the way I deemed fit which is what allowed me to bring my uniqueness to the character. Her vision mainly was to put this story forward as simply as possible; she didn’t overcomplicate things.
This is an all-female-led production; how did that influence the energy and collaboration on set?
When like-minded women come together, they go ahead and create something fantastic. This was never a work set, it was a safe space and safe haven. Everyone on set was so content in themselves that we were all genuinely helping each other do better. No one was stealing the spotlight or throwing any tantrums. Who says women can’t work together? Amongst us we were and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders!
What was the most memorable moment on set for you?
We were all travelling together for the first time and exploring a new and beautiful city because of which my work felt so special. The greenery, the calm and the rain made the experience stand out well. The second is actually the day we were doing a night shoot. Our shot was right next to the beach with the beautiful view of the Bandra-Worli sea link and while our shot was being set up around 3 am, I remember this quaint little moment where I could hear the waves crashing and the silence of the city. That moment just felt so surreal because, in all of my 24 years in this city, I had never seen it this calm and serene. The silence made me realise that I was actually here on a film set, doing what I love doing and living my dream. That sense of reality just hit and in that moment I felt so much gratitude.
Mental and physical health are central themes in the film. Why do you think these conversations are so important in today’s world, especially for women?
Mental and physical health are interconnected and codependent on each other. We cannot be mentally fit if we are physically unfit and vice versa. It’s important to be healthy in all ways in order to be happy. But society is ignorant towards the importance of mental health. Thus, these conversations are essential to ensure that neither ends up being disregarded. Because women are natural caretakers, their health and wellness are often overlooked and not taken care of. Women have so many designated roles to play since birth, that in playing them, they forgets to care about their own needs and desires. We all need to value the life we have at hand and truly live it to its best potential. And that starts with a healthy mind and body.
What kind of conversations do you hope The Second Wind will spark after its premiere?
The beauty of this film is that it tends to all age groups. While my character is a young girl who’s still studying, Mayura is a middle-aged woman. The movie strives to be relatable to every age group of women and men. I’m hoping that people are inspired by the personal journey of self-growth and self- discovery that the characters find for themselves in the film. And the ones who are seeking courage in them to start over and make life count, find it in The Second Wind. This film has the potential to help those who have given up on their dreams to give themselves a second chance at happiness - that they begin their second wind; because nothing in life is truly over until it’s done.
What was it like filming at a live sporting event with all the unpredictability that comes with it?
There’s actually a great deal of fun that comes along with the unpredictability as well. There is no guarantee of a win or a loss, you just keep going and try to get to that finish line. The idea was always to keep it natural which is why the unpredictability helped. We weren’t acting or pretending, we were just living out our experience on camera!
What do you have in store post Cannes?
I’m writing my own musical play which I wish to direct soon, so currently I’m working on that. I’m also shooting for a SaReGaMa movie right now. Other than that, I’m hopeful and excited for some new work opportunities to come my way.
The Second Wind will be debuting at the Cannes Film Festival this year!
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