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With her very first film set to premiere at one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, Indira Baikerikar is already turning heads. The Second Wind, a quietly powerful story of resilience and rediscovery, marks her directorial debut—and it’s heading straight to the global stage at Cannes 2025. In an exclusive chat with us, Baikerikar opens up about the inspiration behind the film, the journey to her Cannes debut, and what it means to tell stories that linger long after the credits roll.
How did you approach portraying each woman’s journey with authenticity and depth?
I’m very close to the women that I have portrayed in the film it was kind of effortless for me to cooperate with them. That’s a reason I have not cast any professional kind of actor because I wanted that authenticity so that’s the reason I have cast the actual people.
Fitness is such a central theme. How did you visually and narratively bring that aspect to life on screen?
Fitness has played very integral role in my life it’s central theme of the film too, but it has been shown very nicely you don’t have to go to gym to workout, hard run kilometers, or you don’t have to swim kilometers, it’s just a small step like tiny baby steps everyday also 10 min you decide to walk since I’m a fitness trainer also, I have understand physic of my people. If something big is thrown towards you they will avoid it so fitness has the central theme of the story but I have kept it very easy and in a poetic way while trying to share with everyone. When I train people I also tell them its not about your body, mind is the main muscle which is working out so that’s what even I had tried to do in my lens on my camera where I have kind of designed the visual with the narration’s as it’s has been the central theme of the movie, so many people can gets inspired from it and not run away from it.
As a debut filmmaker, how has this journey shaped you—artistically and personally?
As a debut filmmaker I’m very thankful to my theatre background. Making a film is not about the artist, what story, the technical aspects, it’s about the expression. I’ve become more expressive. I realised that I was not aware of how expressive I am and I now enjoy my point of view and my personality.
The film carries a message of hope and self-love. How did you balance that without veering into sentimentality?
The film carries a a message of Hope and self love and when you always have hope and when you have hope, you start loving yourself. I have kind of managed that kind of sentiment. The way the story is just an enjoyable moment and every time I came on scene I realise how beautiful life is and I would like to share that with the entire audience that life is simple and beautiful. It’s a gift so accept it and share it with people.
Did you face any emotional challenges while translating their struggles and triumphs to the screen?
I did face emotional challenges while translating their struggles through the screen because, you know, one of them happens to be my daughter, and it’s a real story. Whenever we both think about that incident, it kind of pinches, kind of, you know, bites. There’s that pain inside her heart. Mayura also did face some challenges because she’s all well and fine, but still, she has that slight weakness. Yet she fights the challenge. She gets up from the bed every morning, goes out for her training, swims, cycles, works out, goes to the physio, takes all the ice baths and everything. And I’ve seen it with my eyes, you know—all the blue marks and the red marks because of pain and physio and all. Seeing all that did kind of give me some emotional challenge—will I be able to finish the film? What if she falls, anyone falls sick, mentally or physically? And Nandinee Khosla also had some health issues, but she really stood up and she stands up with me all the time she plays my daughter. I had those challenges I did.
How does it feel to have your very first film selected for Cannes?
It’s a very special experience, and I’m truly grateful that my first film is going to Cannes. I hope people connect with it. My main intention is to inspire others to live a healthy and simple life. Simplicity is the basic need of today’s world. We don’t need to complicate our minds or indulge in unnecessary drama. We’re often caught up in internal high drama and constant overthinking. It’s time to slow down and embrace simplicity. That’s my motive, and I hope Cannes helps me share that message and inspire many people.
How have you and the other women reacted when they found out their stories will be featured at Cannes?
When they found out about the film being selected for Cannes, everyone was so excited. They were all ready to just go there and soak in the entire experience. We’re all really looking forward to it—the entire cast is very excited.
Do you see yourself continuing to tell women-centered or transformative stories in the future?
I would like to do more women-centric films because I believe women are the pillars of strength—for a family, for society, and for the entire nation. It’s women who have the power to uplift both men and women, or at times, even hold them back, which is why they play such a crucial role. I’m not saying this from a feminist standpoint, but because I truly feel that the foundation of a home begins with a woman, and society is just an extension of that home. My third film, which I’m currently planning, will also focus on a remarkable woman. I don’t want to reveal much about it yet—I’d like to keep it a surprise, just like my second film—but I believe it will be another strong, women-centric story.
What message do you hope viewers at Cannes and beyond take away after watching The Second Wind?
The message I want viewers around the world to take away is that life is a precious gift—we should cherish it, enjoy every moment, and help others do the same. The core motto of the film is “I aspire to inspire,” and I believe that if we all lived by that, the world would be a more beautiful place. I want everyone to realize their “second wind”—their second chance in life. Everyone has that moment of transformation, a small yet powerful shift that makes life more meaningful. You fall in love with yourself again, rediscover your passions, and embrace the beauty of living. Fitness has played a central role in my life, and while it’s a key theme in the film, it’s been portrayed in a subtle, poetic way. You don’t need to hit the gym hard or run for miles. It starts with small steps—even walking for 10 minutes a day. As a fitness trainer, I’ve understood that when people are overwhelmed with big changes, they tend to avoid them. That’s why I’ve tried to present fitness in a gentle, inspiring way—through visuals and narration that connect with both body and mind. I always say, the real muscle that needs training is the mind. That’s exactly what I’ve aimed to convey through this film: fitness not as a burden, but as a celebration of life and self-love.
