Guwahati, Sept. 12 -- Naaz Shaikh, a young woman from Dampur in Assam's Kamrup district, once dreamed of walking the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival.

Growing up in a conservative Muslim family with no ties to the film industry, she faced many hardships.

Her father, a carpenter, struggled to support six children, and Naaz lost both her parents in her early twenties.

Her life took a dramatic turn in September 2025 when her debut film, Songs of Forgotten Trees, premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival. The film's director, Anuparna Roy, won the Best Director award in the festival's Orizzonti section. Naaz captivated audiences with her transformative performance in a challenging role that tested her limits.

Naaz recalls, "I alway...