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Still from Ruse

Shorts & Mid-length · Filmmaker Q&A · India Premiere

Ruse

Directed by Rhea Shukla

Screens as part of Programme 14: Breaking the Cocoon.

Screening at DIFF 2026

Sun1 to Sunday 1 Nov · PictureTime 1
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Runtime
10 min
Year
2025
Country
India
Language
English, Hindi
Subtitles
English
Premiere
India

Synopsis

On a rainy afternoon, Kavya and Tara idle at their friend Revati’s house. With her mother away, the three girls play hide-and-seek and rummage through makeup and jewellery, trying to catapult themselves into womanhood. When they begin rehearsing for a dance, the proximity of their bodies evokes a sense of desire they can’t yet name.

Director

Rhea Shukla Rhea ShuklaRhea Shukla is an Indian director based between New Delhi and New York, pursuing an MFA at Columbia University. Her short Ruse premiered at the Berlinale 2025 and screened at Oberhausen and Palm Springs. She is currently developing her first feature.

Cast and crew

Producer
Aanchal Pugalia
Writer
Rhea Shukla
Cinematographer
Tanmay Chowdhary
Editor
Anupam Sinha Roy
Sound
Sukrit sen
Cast
Akshara Padwal, Kurangi Vijayshrie Nagraj, Sammara Khan

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More shorts & mid-length at DIFF 2026