Cast

Pooja Rani - Kunjo

Pooja Rani lives with her many siblings and large family in a sprawling Jhugie in Punjab, India. Similar to the character she plays in the film, Pooja is teaching herself to read and write and strives to go to school. She was a leader both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Although she has never acted before, during the acting workshops she was instrumental in guiding her peers, the instructors, and the director. Participating in the film was a family effort, and many of her family members played supporting roles. The role of her brother was played by her actual brother, Prabhu Ram, who is a polio survivor and one of the smartest students in the village school. Like any other modern Indian teenager, Pooja loves pop-culture and film and would like to continue acting. She has a deep love for her Rajasthani culture and added a lot of her own unique perspective to the character of Kunjo.

Jyoti Sharma – Preeta

Jyoti Sharma lives in the small village of Sheikhupur, Punjab, where her family has lived for centuries. She loves going to school, writing stories, and acting. During production, Jyoti became good friends with Pooja, breaking race and class barriers that are strongly present between the kids from the Jhugie and the village. The character of Preeta was the hardest role to cast, but through the acting workshops, Jyoti ultimately proved to be the best fit for this role. Although a first time actor, her focus and tremendous acting ability challenged the other actors to strive in their roles. She is always smiling and is always a joy to be around.

Kunjo Devi – Pinky

Kunjo Devi is Pooja Rani’s best friend in real life. They are inseparable, like sisters. During the acting workshops, Kunjo was so shy that she was not considered for any of the parts in the film. She shocked everyone when one day she came to the set and adamantly said that she wanted a role in the film. From that moment on, she proved herself to be a very strong and vocal young woman. Her curiosity and desire for knowledge pushed her to excel in her role. In a blatantly racist society, she has always been discriminated against and pushed aside because of the dark color of her skin, and her social standing. To not only see herself in an important role in the film, but to have her story told, she gained a strong sense of empowerment and what her future could hold. At the end of production, she asked for the crew to make another film where she would be the leading star.