As 2025 comes to a close, filmmaker Rahhat Shah Kazmi reflects on his journey with “Love in Vietnam,” a film that has not only traveled across Asia but also garnered prestigious accolades. Kazmi shares that such a year leaves one unprepared.
“Nothing prepares you for a year like this,” he remarked.
He elaborated, “You make a film hoping it will connect with people. But when strangers from another country come up to you and say your story moved them, changed them, stayed with them, it humbles you in a way awards never can.”
Kazmi noted, “We are living in a time where loud often replaces honest.”
The film received prominent recognition in South Korea, winning Best Asian Film and Best Director for Kazmi. Additionally, Chinese distributors embraced it for a wide release. In Vietnam, where it premiered at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, audiences were captivated by its cross-cultural storytelling.
“This year reminded me that honesty still has a place, maybe even more than we realise. Cinema does not need to shout to travel. It just needs to feel true,” he stated.
Kazmi expressed that 2025 has heightened his awareness. “If anything, this year has made me more aware of the responsibility I carry as a filmmaker. When stories cross borders, you realise how carefully they must be told.”
Looking ahead, his vision for cinema is clearer than ever. “I want to make films that last beyond opening weekends. Stories that people return to years later, not because they were perfect, but because they felt real.”
He concluded by stating, “If 2025 taught me anything, it’s this: when you stop chasing scale and start chasing truth, the world somehow finds its way to your film.”
“Love in Vietnam,” starring Shantanu Maheshwari and Avneet Kaur, is a heartfelt cross-cultural love story. The film is produced by Captain Rahul Bali, Rahhat Shah Kazmi, Omung Kumar, Sarvesh Goel, Tariq Khan, Zeba Sajid, Mohammad Antulay, Sahil Sheikh, and Pankaj Singh Chauhan, with co-producers Samten Hills Dalat, Vikas Sharma, Kritika Rampal, Devansh Bhardwaj, and Nguyen Cao Tung.