Vedang Raina spoke about reconnecting with his Kashmiri roots at the International Film Festival of Jammu Kashmir, where he presented Main Vaapas Aaunga and reflected on his connection with the people of the region. For actor Vedang Raina, the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu Kashmir was a particularly meaningful experience. A Kashmiri himself, Vedang returned to his roots as his film Main Vaapas Aaunga was selected as the closing film at the festival in Srinagar last week. Speaking about the experience, Vedang said it was only the second time in his life that he had visited Kashmir. “I was going back to Kashmir only for the second time in my entire life, and that place is very special to me as it is home. I wanted an excuse to go to Srinagar and when this opportunity came, it was the perfect match,” he said. He added that his parents were especially proud and emotional about seeing him take a film to the place he comes from.

Main Vaapas Aaunga revolves around the idea of leaving home, starting over and eventually wanting to return. Vedang believes the emotion has a deeper resonance in Kashmir because of the region’s history. “They have faced very testing incidents, be it the Partition or what happened during the ’90s with Kashmiri Pandits. While it was different, the emotion of leaving everything behind and then starting afresh remains,” he said. The actor also spoke about the warm response he received from audiences in Kashmir. He admitted that the festival helped him understand the region’s relationship with cinema and art more closely. “I didn’t even realise what kind of an audience Kashmir has for movies. I know that people there care about art and culture, but it’s through this film festival that I got to learn more about them,” Vedang said. He added that he would like to contribute to promoting cinema in the region, which he feels is long overdue.

“Kashmir deserves a lot more theatre and connection to cinema, and being able to contribute to that feels special. People in Kashmir feel like family,” he said. Vedang also spoke enthusiastically about Kashmir’s natural beauty, culture and food. While his recent visit was limited to Srinagar, he recalled his love for destinations such as Pahalgam and Gulmarg. He also enjoyed a traditional Wazwan meal and picked up some of his favourite Kashmiri treats, including walnut fudge, which he described as one of his favourite things. Interestingly, despite his Kashmiri roots, Vedang joked that filmmaker Imtiaz Ali knows the region far better than he does. “I have a connection with the place but Imtiaz Ali sir knows Kashmir way better than I do. He knows even the smallest places there,” he said. Vedang recalled seeking Imtiaz’s recommendations on places to visit and food to try while travelling with his Main Vaapas Aaunga co-star Sharvari. Looking ahead, the actor hopes to return to Kashmir for a film project, especially one helmed by Imtiaz Ali. “If there’s an opportunity that takes me to Kashmir, and if it’s for a film shoot, that’s even better. It means I will get to spend so much more time there. If Imtiaz sir writes it, that would be a dream come true. If he decides to cast me in it, I hope that’s something that comes to fruition,” he said.