Kiril Kuznetsov Charms Delhi at the Russian Film Festival 2025
Delhi’s historic PVR Plaza played host to an evening of thoughtful storytelling as the Russian Film Festival 2025 welcomed acclaimed Russian actor Kiril Kuznetsov for an extended post-screening conversation around his celebrated film August. What unfolded was less a traditional Q&A and more an intimate cultural moment — one that quietly reminded the audience why cinema remains a universal language.
The film was met with warm applause, with viewers drawn to its emotional quietude and the grace with which it handles memory and loss. Kuznetsov spoke with reflective ease about shaping the film’s central character, the collaboration behind August, and the creative responsibility of interpreting a narrative rooted in historical truth. His answers carried a softness that immediately resonated with the room.
The most memorable moment, however, arrived when the conversation turned to Indian cinema — particularly the actors who inspire him. Kuznetsov shared that Alia Bhatt became his favourite Indian performer after her riveting portrayal in Gangubai Kathiawadi, calling her performance “astonishing in emotional clarity.” His playful follow-up — that he would love to work with her someday but is “slightly terrified of Ranbir Kapoor after watching Animal” — sparked laughter and applause, creating one of the warmest exchanges of the evening.
Kuznetsov also reflected on the growing creative bridge between Indian and Russian filmmakers, noting how festivals like the Russian Film Festival 2025 in Delhi nurture artistic synergy, cross-border conversations, and new possibilities for collaboration. Delhi, he said, had offered him a sense of welcome and curiosity he hopes to return to through future projects.
The evening closed with a standing ovation — a gesture that captured not only Kuznetsov’s impact but also the enduring way cinema brings worlds together.
