Mar 12, 2026 11:00am IST
Guneet Monga: ‘If you truly love cinema, you develop a knack for balancing art and commerce’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Producer Guneet Monga won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film for "The Elephant Whisperers" in 2023, at the 95th Academy Awards. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, she reflects on what that moment meant and how life has unfolded since. She speaks about the opportunities the win opened up for her and her company, Sikhya Entertainment, while also addressing the larger reality of India’s documentary ecosystem. She further noted that while recognition is powerful, stronger financial backing is still needed for the system to truly grow.
Post the Oscar win, has the global view of Indian documentaries changed?
I see the Oscar as a powerful spotlight. It validates that deeply rooted, authentic Indian stories can travel globally. Platforms and audiences are now more curious about our realities. The Oscar certainly brought visibility; it’s easier to be seen and to walk into rooms with people who may not have known us before. But the documentary filmmaking ecosystem in India remains deeply underfunded. Our partners at Netflix have immensely supported this drive to represent homegrown stories. However, for documentaries to truly thrive, stronger funding, infrastructure, and greater belief in the medium are essential.
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How has the Oscar win changed things for you?
Winning the Oscar certainly opened doors; but more than anything, it raised expectations, both from others and from myself. It also reinforced that global recognition isn’t accidental; it takes local support, strong partners, and consistent visibility, an ecosystem India is still building.
How do you avoid the pressure of chasing another “Oscar-worthy” project, instead of focusing on stories that genuinely excite you?
We’ve never chased awards as a studio. Our focus has always been on discovering compelling talent and powerful stories, then nurturing them so they remain authentic to the land and communities they come from. We see global potential in our storytelling and always strategize how our stories can have a larger impact and conversations globally.
Do you think the global appetite for Indian stories has evolved in the last three years?
I do think the global appetite for Indian stories has evolved significantly. Audiences today are far more open to watching films from different cultures, and we’ve even moved past the old barrier of subtitles. What matters now is authenticity. When stories are deeply rooted and honest about where they come from, international audiences are more than willing to lean in and discover them.
From producing films like ‘Lunchbox’ and ‘Masaan’ to ‘The Elephant Whisperers,’ what has been the most unexpected lesson about building a career in global cinema?
One of the most unexpected lessons is just how resilient you have to be. This is a very difficult industry, and longevity requires patience and belief. If you truly love cinema, you develop a knack for balancing art and commerce, protecting the integrity of a story while also understanding the realities of audiences, markets, and sustainability.
If you could go back and speak to yourself the night you won the Oscar, what would you say?
I spent my whole life chasing this one goal. Yet, after so many years of hard work and ambition, if you don’t have health on your side, that brings life into perspective. I would tell myself it’s time to find more dreams; because truly, there are no limits. And I’d remind myself of the importance of my health, staying well enough to enjoy life’s big and small moments.
What is one misconception people still have about what it takes to win an Oscar?
One misconception is that winning an Oscar suddenly brings wealth or financial security. It doesn’t, you don’t become rich overnight. What it gives you is recognition, which is priceless but not monetary. Ultimately, you make films you believe in and for audiences. If you give your 100%, recognition may follow, and for the Oscars, strong American distribution is essential.
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