'Had Cannes happened earlier, I would have been euphoric'

'When you watch your film for the first time with so many people, you feel naked.'

Tillotama Shome makes her debut at Cannes 2018.

Two of her films will be showcased at Cannes: Nandita Das's Manto and Rohena Gera's Sir.

While she has a cameo in Manto, she takes centrestage in Sir.

Manto will be screened on May 13, 14 and 18.

Sir will be screened on May 14 and 15.

"I am very greedy, so I am looking at this opportunity as a chance for me to really learn as much as I can from my colleagues, from other actors and directors from various countries," Tillotama tells Rediff.com's Patcy N.

What are your plans for Cannes?

I have never gone to Cannes before. Had Cannes happened to me earlier, I would have been euphoric. But now, my focus is on my films.

I am auditioning and preparing for two films and my focus is there.

I have not watched Sir yet, so I really want to go there and watch the film for the first time. I am very excited and nervous about that.

When you watch your film for the first time with so many people, you feel naked.

Cannes is such a prestigious film festival that I am looking forward to meeting the other directors and actors.

The critics line-up of films seems amazing. I will get a chance to interact with such people and understand their process.

I am very greedy, so I am looking at this opportunity as a chance for me to really learn as much as I can from my colleagues, from other actors and directors from various countries.

If I learn even one thing from one person in these four days, I will come back to Mumbai richer.

After the festival, I will be going to Geneva to meet Anup Singh (the director of Qissa) and his wife. They have invited me to talk about a new project.

What will you wear on the red carpet?

Ekta Rajani (the former Grazia fashion director ) has a great sense of style. She will be styling me; I have left all decisions to her. But I will be wearing Indian.

Tell us about Sir.

Sir is Rohena Gera's debut feature film. She's from Pune. The film has been produced by her and her French husband Brice Poisson.

I got the script while I was shooting for Death In The Gunj.

When I read the script, I immediately said yes.

It is a very unlikely and sensitive relationship between a man (played by Vivek Gomber) and his domestic help (played by Tillotama).

Living in India, all of us understand how complex and classist our relationship is with those who work for us.

So imagine a friendship between a well-to-do man and a woman who works in his house. It explores a delicate relationship that is taboo in our country.

Vivek Gomber has acted in and produced the Marathi film, Court.

He comes from a background of fiercely Indie films and theatre. We are good friends.

Vivek has that same kind of hunger and passion that I do.