The cast of Marathi film Gondal, which has been nominated for the Oscars, sat down for a candid conversation with IWMBuzz. During the chat, the director and cast of India’s official Oscar entry Gondhal—Santosh Davakhar, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, and Nishad Bhoir—open up about bringing Maharashtrian folk culture to a global stage.

When asked if he always envisioned taking Gondhal to an international stage, writer-director Santosh Davakhar revealed that the concept first took shape in 2016 and he completed the first draft in 2020.

He further revealed that, after years of deep cultural research and study of Hollywood screenwriting techniques, he crafted the psychological thriller with a clear goal: to present authentic Maharashtrian folk traditions through a universal cinematic lens that can resonate with global audiences.

Ishita On Bagging The Role Of Suman

The actress shared that she got the opportunity through a casting director who asked her to audition; she sent her profile, after which a new journey began.

Speaking about portraying Suman’s complex arc, Ishita noted that her innocent face and natural expressions helped her balance the character’s vulnerability with her darker, grey shades. She also credited writer and director Santosh for the flawless writing, which made it easy for her to follow.

Yogesh Sohoni On Getting The Dialect Of Marathi

Actor Yogesh Sohoni opened up about how the cast mastered the specific regional Marathi dialect used in Gondhal. He revealed that the team watched dedicated YouTube channels to study pronunciation nuances in detail and held joint script-reading sessions to get the rhythm right.

Speaking about his character, Yogesh said he immediately wanted to play the part upon hearing the narration, drawn to the challenge of exploring its contrasting shades.

Nishad Bhoir On Feedback

Reflecting on his viral smile and the overwhelming audience response, Nishad Bhoir said he continues to receive heartwarming feedback from viewers. He also added that he has now discovered his screen presence is strong, and noted how satisfying it feels when audiences leave the theatre remembering his character’s impact.

The actor added that Gondhal helped him discover the strength of his screen presence,

Watch the full video interview below to hear more from the Gondhal team about their Oscar journey and behind-the-scenes memories.

Gondhal is also released nationwide in multiple languages on November 13, 2026.