EXCLUSIVE: Xavier Samuel and Sonal Sehgal have been cast to lead The Great Departure.
The film, from producer Arvind Reddy’s KVR Productions and directed by the Camera d’Or-nominated Pierre Filmon, is currently in post-production having shot entirely in India. Sehgal wrote the script during lockdown, with the film originally titled Travellers.
Plot explores patriarchy in society through the prism of a man and woman who accidentally meet in Varanasi, and have very different experiences while on the same road trip as they fall in love. Samuel (Twiling: Eclipse) and Sehgal (Aashayein) star.
“Growing up in a patriarchal society and yet with a set of parents who encouraged my fiercely independent streak, I often found myself in a dichotomy of how I was brought up and what society expected of me and hence took to cinema as a form of expression,” said Sehgal of the script.
The film is also acting as a relaunch platform for KVR Productions, the Indian production house that is run by Arvind Reddy, the grandson of renowned South Indian director KV Reddy, who died in 1972. “The theme of patriarchy, the road trip genre, and the script that struck a cord,” said Arvind Reddy. “Walking our talk, we ensured gender parity in all departments.”
Samuel has had roles in the Ana de Armes-starrer Blonde, Robin Wright and Naomi Watts film Adore and Love and Friendship, which starred Kate Beckinsale. Earlier this week, we revealed he was one of several cast in Minka Kelly’s romantic comedy for Netflix, Champagne Problems. He was also a series regular in TNT drama Tell Me Your Secrets.
“I was very moved by Sonal’s script, its humanity and unflinching focus on the reality of life in India, particularly for women,” said Samuel. “The film has such a strong heart. The drama, the romance, it all leapt off the page. Two characters from completely different realities finding common ground together and ultimately fall in love. An ode to those fleeting, chance encounters that change who you are.”
French director Filmon, who was filming in India for the first time, added: “From the cast and crew, drivers, security personnel, assistants, and cooks, this dream team was perfectly organized and enabled the creative team to give the best out of a terrific script.”
Film was Camera d’Or-nominated for 2016 doc Close with Villas Zsigmond. His 2022 film Jerry Schatzberg, Landscape Portrait premiered at Venice.