Imagine you’re a 12-year-old, shy, and grappling with the burdens of societal expectations about body image. This is Pratik’s world. He’s the protagonist of the moving new film Changing Room. Pratik’s journey takes an unexpected turn in a seemingly mundane setting: a clothing store.
Who’s behind this poignant story? Meet Ruchir Kulkarni, an exceptional filmmaker from India who has made Los Angeles his creative hub. Once an engineer, Ruchir shifted gears to filmmaking, where he has left his mark through narratives, documentaries, and commercial projects in both India and the U.S. With multiple short films and prestigious documentaries under his belt, he’s not just a storyteller but a master of exploring themes of identity, self-perception, and human relationships.
To top it off, Ruchir was celebrated as one of the 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow at the 52nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Pretty impressive, right?
But here’s what makes Changing Room even more special—it’s personal. Here’s what Ruchir has to say about the heart and soul of the film:
“In India, where cultural norms place an outsized importance on appearance, societal expectations around body image can be oppressive, especially for young people. Children are often conditioned to believe that their value is tied to how they look, and any deviation from the ideal—whether too fat, too thin, too short, or too tall—is met with criticism. And what makes it even more painful is that these aggressions often come from those closest to us—our own families. The remarks are normalised, frequently masked as ‘concern’ for well-being or appearance, or dismissed as ‘harmless teasing’ that should be taken sportingly. But, internally they perpetuate a cycle of insecurity, self-doubt, and emotional scars. Changing Room is a deeply personal exploration of self-acceptance, mirroring my own journey with body image and self-esteem set against the emotionally rich backdrop of Indian society.”
So there you have it—Changing Room is not just a film; it’s a mirror reflecting the emotional battle of self-acceptance that so many of us face. Keep an eye out for this emotional and thought-provoking movie, and prepare to embark on a journey of empathy, understanding, and ultimately, self-love.
You can listen to the exclusive interview with Ruchir Kulkarni on Live On Air with Steven Cuoco:
Photos courtesy of Ruchir Kulkarni
