Happy Birthday Pragya Kapoor! Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui Producer Championing Sustainable Filmmaking and Social Causes

Renowned filmmaker and model Pragya Kapoor turned a year older today. On her birthday, the producer of Kedarnath revealed how she has been leading the advocacy for sustainability in the Indian film industry. She said that while producing the movie, which also features the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, she realised the importance of sustainable filmmaking. Pragya is known for producing movies including Kedarnath, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, and Maali.

Emphasising sustainable filmmaking, Pragya said, “Making Kedarnath was a real wake-up call. The film itself championed environmental responsibility, talking about keeping the mountains clean and promoting responsible tourism. But there we were, generating a ton of waste on set! It felt completely hypocritical. Here we were advocating for sustainability, but our own practices were anything but. That’s when I realized the huge disconnect between the film’s message and what was happening behind the scenes. It sparked a fire in me to ensure our future productions wouldn’t be like that.”

Challenges Pragya Kapoor Faced During Sustainable Filmmaking

Talking about the challenges of practicing sustainability on large film sets, the producer said, “I think the real challenge arises with big-budget films where things get tricky. With hundreds of crew members and mountains of costumes, implementing sustainable practices becomes a whole new beast compared to smaller projects. While most people are on board with making changes, convincing some department heads and actors can be an uphill battle. It often comes down to a shift in mindset.”

She further highlights, “Logistics throw another wrench into the works. Filming locations often lack proper waste management facilities. Recycling plants might be nonexistent in remote areas, forcing us to transport waste to other states – which creates a whole new set of problems with carbon emissions. In these cases, I question whether upcycling waste might be a more sustainable option. Sometimes, there are no systems in place at all, and we have to start from scratch.”

The producer further added, “Costumes are another major challenge. Every film demands specific outfits for the story, and established costume rental facilities are hard to come by in India. Throw in actors who might be hesitant to wear previously used clothing, and you’ve got a perfect storm fueled by the fashion industry’s throwaway culture. Set materials are no better – they’re often unsustainable and rarely repurposed, adding to the overall waste problem.”

How to Practise Sustainable Filmmaking ?

Pragya describes the sustainable development initiatives implemented on set. Leftover food was either donated or composted, reusable water bottles were distributed, and the crew of 200 received training on waste segregation. A dedicated team managed waste, recycling it or converting it into eco-bricks. She highlights, “We refrained from depicting characters using single-use plastic and emphasized promoting local transportation and a simpler lifestyle in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui.”

Pragya expresses enthusiasm about integrating environmental themes into future films and underscores the importance of sustainable filmmaking for the Indian film industry. Adding to it, she said, “India has a responsibility to lead in adopting eco-friendly practices. By demonstrating these changes, the industry can inspire others to follow suit. Filmmakers can develop innovative solutions to make filmmaking more environmentally friendly and create a positive impact.”