Mumbai, March 3 – Renowned chef, author, and filmmaker Vikas Khanna recently shared a poignant memory on Instagram, revealing how his acclaimed film ‘The Last Color’ was sparked on a vibrant Holi day in 2011. Amid the festival’s explosion of pinks, yellows, and blues, Khanna noticed a group of widows sitting silently in white, untouched by the colors of celebration.
This stark contrast pierced his heart. ‘The world around was drenched in hues, but these women were denied even a shadow of color,’ he recounted. In that moment, he penned a short story that evolved into a novel and eventually the powerful film ‘The Last Color’.
The journey didn’t stop there. The film’s first look debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by screenings at nearly 100 international festivals. It earned a standing ovation at the United Nations headquarters and led to an invitation to the US Capitol in Washington DC to advocate for widows’ employment and dignity. Khanna became a Global Ambassador for Global Widows.
Declared eligible for the 2020 Academy Awards, the film streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Yet, for Khanna, the true triumph wasn’t awards but the lesson in inclusion. ‘Connecting someone to color, joy, and festival is paramount. Everyone deserves it,’ he emphasized.
This philosophy birthed his ‘Bungalow’ initiative, where no celebration is complete until everyone shares the table. Though now in Dubai, Khanna’s spirit lingers in Vrindavan, cheering the widows who finally embraced colors with gulal in every fist.