In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Sukanya Boruah spoke about collaborating with Das, her understanding of the title, and more details about the film
Filmmaker Rima Das has made a new film called Not A Hero. Exiled from city comforts to his ancestral village, a boy meets his bitter aunt, befriends a horse, and joins wild local kids on untamed adventures, discovering the beauty of life and a courage he never knew he had. This is a film that stars Bhuman Bhargav Das, Sukanya Boruah, Mrinmoy Das.
And in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Sukanya Boruah spoke about collaborating with Das, her understanding of the title, and more details about the film.
Edited excerpts from the interview
What does the tile Not A Hero mean to you?
For me, Not A Hero isn’t about the absence of bravery it’s about redefining what a hero actually is. We grow up with very loud, dramatic definitions of heroism. But this film quietly questions that. Sometimes strength is simply about surviving, adapting, and surviving a day or learning to belong….
It’s about a city boy stepping into a rural world and slowly unlearning his own ideas of power and identity. He isn’t trying to be heroic he’s just trying to understand life.
How was it like working with
Rima Das?
Working with
Rima was very special, She has this very honest, minimal, and emotionally sensitive approach to filmmaking. She doesn’t force performances she allows you to live inside the moment. And allows you to be you
There’s a lot of silence in her process, and in that silence you discover things about yourself. She trusts her actors deeply, and that trust makes you want to give more than just a performance , I mean you want to give truth.
What more can you tell about the film?
At its core, the film is about belonging. It touches on childhood, identity, and the quiet transition from one world to another. It’s not loud, it’s not dramatic ,it’s an observational try and also intimate.
It’s about a city boy exploring a village, discovering a slower rhythm of life, and confronting his own assumptions. The film doesn’t preach about masculinity it gently questions what strength means when you’re out of your comfort zone….
What are the responses that came from
Berlinale?
The response at Berlinale was overwhelming in the most beautiful way. Watching the film with an international audience and hearing their applause felt powerful. What moved me most was how people from completely different cultures connected to such a rooted, local story. And how children audiences were totally having fun and they loved it
It reminded me that emotions are universal. Sometimes we face so much prejudice within our own country, yet on global platforms the same stories are celebrated. That contrast is both painful and powerful…..
How much have cinema and women’s roles evolved or changed in Indian cinema?
Indian cinema has definitely evolved. Women are no longer just supporting characters. We’re seeing more layered, complex female characters with agency, flaws, ambition, and inner conflicts.
There’s still a long way to go, but the shift is visible. More women are directing, producing, writing, and shaping narratives…. Its so nice to see women creating magic. And that changes the gaze completely. It makes cinema more honest.
Who are the actors and filmmakers that inspired you or motivated you to be a part of this profession?
I’ve always admired actors who disappear into their roles like Irrfan Khan for his quiet intensity and truthfulness. Internationally, someone like Timothée Chalamet for his vulnerability on screen. He is insane. Also, there are so many new actors who are incredible.
Personally, I love all kinds of cinema, as long as it feels honest and meaningful. I’m drawn to stories I can emotionally relate to, but also ones that show me something new, a different perspective, a different way of living, something unique about the world I hadn’t noticed before.
For me, inspiration comes from honesty. Cinema isn’t just a profession I entered . It’s something I’ve been living since childhood. Sometimes today feels unreal, like I still have a filter in front of my eyes. But moments like Berlinale remind me why I started….
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