India, June 9 -- I first met Indira Baikerikar at a coffee shop in Mahim, Mumbai, shortly after her debut film, The Second Wind, was selected for a showcase at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. For a first-time director, it was a monumental achievement, and she was still coming to terms with the gravity of the moment-walking the red carpet at Cannes and rubbing shoulders with global icons like Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, and Alia Bhatt.

Originally from Dibrugarh in Assam, Indira has lived in Mumbai for several years, but her connection to her roots and her love for sports remain strong. Though filmmaking is her newfound passion, she often reminds those around her that she will always be a sportsperson at heart.

We met again at Cannes for even...