New Delhi: Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor was mistaken for a newcomer at the Udta Teer trailer launch in Mumbai on Wednesday, when a reporter congratulated her on what she believed was one of Monga’s first projects.
A video from the interaction showed the reporter telling Monga, “It’s your first, probably one of the first projects. Really, congratulations.”
Monga and Ayushmann Khurrana both appeared surprised by the question. Khurrana was the first to correct her. “It’s not the first. The Lunchbox, Kill,” he said, naming a few of Monga’s films.
Monga then added, “I’ve done more than 35 feature films.”
Someone at the event also pointed out, “She has won an Oscar too.”
“I’m so sorry. Well, sometimes the media can make mistakes. I’m one of those,” the reporter said.
She clarified that she had meant to congratulate Udta Teer writer-director Aakash Kaushik, who is making his feature directorial debut with the film.
“I actually wanted to congratulate Aakash ji, the writer and director, on his first film,” she said.
Monga’s production career
Monga’s first feature as a producer was Subhash Kapoor’s cricket drama Say Salaam India, released in 2007. She was in her early 20s at the time and has spoken about raising money for the film and later helping distribute it herself.
Monga co-founded Sikhya Entertainment in 2008. Her production credits include films such as Dasvidaniya (2008), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Masaan (2015), Haraamkhor (2015), Pagglait (2021) and Kathal (2023)
Monga and director Kartiki Gonsalves won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film for The Elephant Whisperers in 2023. She was also an executive producer on Period. End of Sentence, which won the same Oscar category in 2019.
About Udta Teer
Udta Teer stars Ayushman Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan in a spy comedy that follows a Pakistani intelligence operative who loses his memory after entering India and begins to believe he is an Indian officer.
Kaushik has written and directed the film, in production with Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Guneet Monga and Achin Jain. It is scheduled to release in theatres on 9 October.
Edited by Maryam Hassan