Actor Vibhore Mayank’s second feature film, Bayaan, has been making waves at the international film festival circuit. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as well as the Busan Film Festival.

The actor portrays a local cop with a secret agenda, assisting actor Huma Qureshi’s character in a case: “Despite being a very rooted story, the film’s narrative has a global relevance. It explores how people follow a cult in a small place; on a larger scale, it’s about blind following.”

The actor, who moved to Mumbai from Lucknow in 2011, says that it wasn’t possible for a newcomer like him to “strategise” such a career move. “I have waited for 14 years for a film to travel to prestigious festivals and do houseful shows. The results are showing now,” shares the actor who made his lead debut in Himanshu Malik directorial Chitrakut (2022).

Mayank adds, “I debuted as a lead, but it was a small independent film that wasn’t seen widely. I realized it’s crucial to be part of a project that has established actors and an audience. After a two-year wait, I got this film, and it’s gaining acclaim even before its release... I am already working with Himanshu for his second film, and two more offers are at the discussion level. I finally have the confidence that I will get more work.”

This journey wasn’t easy and Mayank faced his fair share of challenges. “From small roles to working as a dubbing artiste, in casting, and assisting on projects, I kept moving forward until I got my break,” he recounts, adding, “Many times, I thought it was taking too long and wondered when my moment would come, but the thought of quitting never once crossed my mind. Practicing art is a luxury, and you have to earn it. So, I kept working, learning, and earning to sustain myself for the right chance. All of this is the culmination of everything, but it is just the start of a new journey.”

(From left) Shiladitya Bora with Huma Qureshi and Bikas Ranjan Mishra at the festival in Canada

Career milestones are not only a moment of validation, but also one of reflection. It struck us when we spoke with producer Shiladitya Bora, days before he headed out for Bayaan’s September 6 première at the 50th edition of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Huma Qureshi-led thriller is not the first time that Bora has worked with a mainstream Bollywood star. Previously, he served as the executive producer of Vicky Kaushal’s Masaan (2015) and Rajkummar Rao’s Newton (2017), albeit both weren’t the stars then that they are today. How does the producer view their rise to stardom and becoming the face of mainstream movies over the years?

“Here, actors, directors, or producers are independent only till they don’t make it. Once they get success, they only want to do [mainstream] projects. That’s not right. You should never leave your core. Once you grow, you should empower more people,” he reflected.

On that count, he praised Qureshi for fronting Bayaan, making sure Bikas Ranjan Mishra’s directorial venture finds a place on her résumé  that has mainstream offerings like Maharani and Jolly LLB 3. While actors’ lure of big-ticket films is understandable, Bora wondered why that amounts to them not backing small but meritorious stories.

He elaborated to mid-day, “I understand now that you’ve become a bigger star, you want to do bigger studio films. But since you reached here through a breakout small film, be fair. You took a chance at that time. Now things are much better for you. You can champion things. We lack that. Huma is a great sport in this, apart from being a great actor.”

The actors alone aren’t to be blamed, he assessed. The producer’s experience in the industry has shown him that actors are influenced by their managers.

“Many actors depend on what their management says. After a point of time, they all are surrounded by yes-men. It’s important that they make decisions on their own. I feel many people don’t even read scripts, or decide on the basis of them. They will only do a film when a big studio is attached.”

Huma Qureshi has made several trips to Toronto, but the upcoming visit will be special for her. The actor will take Bayaan to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where Bikas Ranjan Mishra’s directorial venture — the only Indian title to be selected in the Discovery section — will première on September 7. “This is my maiden visit to the festival,” Qureshi says gleefully.

In Bayaan, the actor plays an investigator who goes to Rajasthan to solve a case that shows her how our society is steeped in patriarchy. Saying yes to the thriller was an instinctive decision, she says.

“The script was fantastic. Bikas and Shiladitya [Bora, producer] were sure of the story they wanted to tell — it was India-specific, but told with a larger global audience [in mind]. The film is supported by International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund. During the [Film Independent’s] LA Residency, the scripting was done under the mentorship of Craig Mazin of Chernobyl [2019] fame. It felt like something I wanted to bet on. I had wanted to do an indie project for a long time. It is getting so much appreciation and that reinstates my faith in the fact that passion drives work in the movies.”

In the past few years, Qureshi shone in digital entertainment with films like Monica O My Darling (2022) and Tarla (2023), and the series Maharani (2021-24). She has been vocal about the pay disparity in OTT entertainment, pointing out that despite the show’s success, her remuneration is nowhere close to that of male actors. Taking that thought forward, she says the pay gap is only the tip of the problem. 

“The industry loves to call OTT a level-playing field, but the gap is real. The disparity will get worse. Today’s content is so different from the quality content we were making a few years ago. We all thought OTT would change narrative styles. While we see shows like Breaking Bad and Squid Game, where are those shows from India that can break barriers? To have systemic changes, you need mindsets to shift, and we are nowhere close to that shift yet.”

Qureshi has been exploring another creative frontier — writing. In 2023, she released her debut novel, Zeba: An Accidental Superhero. While it was initially written as a concept note for a television series, she turned it into a book. Is the screen adaptation in the pipeline? “I’d love to do a screen adaptation. It would be wonderful to go back to that world from a fresh perspective,” she says.

More than happiness, director Bikas Ranjan Mishra feels a sense of relief as his next, Bayaan, is headed to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). To him, the world première at the prestigious festival is the culmination of a seven-year journey that involved rejections from multiple production houses. “I took this script to everyone. Every production house in Mumbai has a copy of the Bayaan script,” he states.

The thriller, led by Huma Qureshi, took its first step towards realization only when Shiladitya Bora stepped in as the producer. Mishra says, “Huma is the film’s hero, but if there’s one more hero, it’s Shila. In this industry, no one has guts. People are sitting in big offices, but a producer is one who is ready to risk their business for a [good] story.”

Equally gutsy is Qureshi, whose investigator character goes to Rajasthan for a case that ends up mirroring the deep-rooted patriarchal society. “We approached other actors and everybody wanted to do it, but they were scared,”

Mishra recalls. In contrast, Qureshi was all courage, ready to front a story she believed in. “Apart from being a wonderful actor, she has guts. All the actors hide behind their managers and agents. Huma is the only actor I approached directly. After narrating the story, I told her that no studio or platform was attached. She said, ‘No problem. Send me the script.’ For the rest of the industry, commercial considerations come first. Huma responded to our integrity that we wanted to make the film our way.”

Qureshi’s belief in the material was refreshing for the director, after having met actors who had several criteria that superseded the story. Mishra says, “Many actors were kicked about the role. But they wondered, ‘Will the film get a platform? Will people go to theatres to watch a small film?’ There were actors who were cast, but they ran away because they got a three-day role in a big male star’s film.”

Huma Qureshi-starrer Bayaan, a taut police procedural-thriller, has been officially selected for the prestigious Discovery section of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), where its world premiere will take place this September.

Speaking to us about the film, helmed by writer-director Bikas Ranjan Mishra, Huma says, “Bayaan is a film that I took a bet on; it brings to the forefront a haunting story with a big soul. With no big backing and safety net, this film is purely a fruit of everyone's hard work, and I am elated that this is the only film selected in the Discovery Section at TIFF this year. It is indeed a proud moment for me, and I further strengthen my belief to support such storytelling and films.”

Talking about why she connects so strongly with this film, she says, “Bayaan gave me the opportunity to play the kind of character I’ve long been drawn to—someone within the justice system, yet up against forces much larger than herself. What makes this even more special is that I am part of this project not just as an actor but also as a producer.”

Helmed by writer-director Bikas Ranjan Mishra—best known for his acclaimed feature film 'Chauranga'—'Bayaan' was developed at Film Independent, Los Angeles and is produced by Shiladitya Bora of Platoon One Films, India’s leading independent film studio known for multiple Filmfare award winning Ghaath (Berlinale 2023), National Award winner Picasso (Amazon Prime’s first direct to digital Marathi film).

Filmmaker Bikas Ranjan Mishra described 'Bayaan' as a poignant reflection of contemporary India, where "power and gender intersect in volatile and often invisible ways."

The filmmaker added, "It is my attempt to bear witness to a society in transition — and to salute the quiet courage of those who choose to speak.' I'm deeply honoured to present my second feature, Bayaan, at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section — a platform that has launched the journeys of many filmmakers I admire and cherish."

“As a producer, I’m always looking for that one script that can be a breakout film for everyone involved—and with 'Bayaan', I knew we had something powerful. At Platoon One Films, our ethos is to champion newer voices and newer stories that provoke, connect, and challenge. This film truly embodies that spirit," said Shiladitya Bora.

Besides Huma, the film boasts of a stellar cast that includes Chandrachur Singh, Sachin Khedekar with powerhouse performers Paritosh Sand, Avijit Dutt, Vibhore Mayank, Sampa Mandal, Swati Das, Aditi Kanchan Singh and Perry Chhabra.

Rajasthan is calling Huma Qureshi back. Two months after wrapping up Jolly LLB 3’s schedule, the actor is returning to the state to begin her next, Bayaan. Shiladitya Bora, who is co-producing the police procedural drama, is thrilled that Qureshi—who was the first actor to whom director Bikas Mishra pitched the script—gave her nod to the role.

“Bikas had met Huma in Los Angeles in 2019, during the Film Independent residency. She is the first actor Bikas had pitched the story to, and we’re so excited that it worked out with her,” he says.

In the drama that rolls mid-month, Qureshi plays an investigator, who is sent to a small town in Rajasthan to lead her career’s first case. Bayaan is supported by the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund and was developed at LA Residency. Mishra, who previously helmed Chauranga (2014), was mentored by Craig Mazin, the creator of Chernobyl (2019) and The Last Of Us (2023), on his second feature film. If Mazin’s guidance helped him enrich the story on paper, he trusts Qureshi to elevate it on screen.

Mishra states, “Huma is a powerhouse of performance and enthusiasm. Her ability to inhabit complex characters is undeniable, and her energy will elevate Bayaan to a new level.”

The film also stars Chandrachur Singh and Sachin Khedekar. Bora reveals that he approached Singh hesitatingly. “We believe in contrarian casting. We knew that Chandrachur is known for playing the charming hero. But he is such a warm and receptive actor that he instantly agreed to this part.”