A year ago, the universe had conspired against Diipa, casting a shadow upon her path as she yearned to grace the illustrious Cannes Film Festival. Internal power struggles waged stealing away her coveted seat and spilling hopes of attending such prestigious events. However, just when despair had begun to settle in, a flicker of destiny ignited a flame of resilience within her.

Not only did Diipa manage to secure her place at Cannes Film Festival this year, but she also wielded her newfound power to extend an invitation to two remarkable female contemporaries, Dolly Singh and Raja Kumari, hailing from the vibrant heart of India. Together, they would showcase Diipa’s visionary creation — indē wild — a brand that harmonized South Asian skincare and haircare in a mesmerizing symphony of beauty and culture.

This was no ordinary accolade given to an influencer solely due to their social following. This is a tale that resonated with the extraordinary lengths one is willing to go to to pursue their dreams. It encapsulated the unwavering spirit that refuses to yield, defying all odds on the journey toward success.

In the realm of our story, mystery danced with motivation, the unknown intertwining with the undeniable drive to create something extraordinary. As Diipa and I embarked on this transformative adventure, we were both aware that our destinies had collided for a purpose greater than ourselves. Little did we know that this would be but the beginning of a saga that would captivate hearts and inspire souls for generations to come!

Masala: How did you manage to fly indē wild to the Cannes Film Festival this year? Tell us the process.

Diipa Khosla: We are a brand on a mission to make it clear that our difference is our superpower and we start with a vision and goal, always. We all knew that the red-carpet walk with formidable women like Dolly and Raja would be a big win for our community representation on the world’s stage. We set our mind on making this happen, me and my small work hard to make our dream a reality!

Masala: Why was Cannes Film Festival your choice for indē wild’s grand public debut?

Diipa Khosla: What’s better than Cannes Film Festival? It was important for me to choose a place that actually help us gain visibility and also align with our mission to boost South Asian representation. Cannes Film Festival was a major milestone is my career, when I walked the red carpet 6 years ago, I was the first Indian Influencer do to so! I think this was a satisfying circle moment in my journey.

Masala: When a Comedy/ Fashion Influencer gets this public attention, what does this show us about the world being more accepting of Influencers?

Dolly Singh: I feel we are living in an age of creators and influencers and at this point, people look up to us as role models because we seem like one of them. A celebrity endorsing a product is great but now when a creator does so, it comes with a stronger feeling of relatability and connection. As influencers, we try to be as real and relatable as possible and that’s something that has led to the exponential rise of content creators.

Masala: Why do you think influencers were called this time to the Cannes Film Festival, for usually this center stage is generally given to contemporaries within cinema?

Diipa Khosla: 2023 has shown us the undeniable power of influencers, and it’s about time they got the spotlight they deserve. Their presence at prestigious events like Cannes Film Festival signifies a more accepting mindset. The visibility & engagement that influencers bring is now known by all. Traditional roles are shifting, it doesn’t make sense to gate-keep anyone anymore! In fact, many influencers across the globe have now actually gained the coveted ‘celebrity status’.

Dolly Singh: I feel influencers command a certain legacy value in current times and most festivals today embrace diversity and inclusivity at multiple levels. The collaborative influencer outreach in my mind is to further amplify the brand value of such a mammoth film festival over social media and reach out to a diverse audience. I feel not being niche and more collaborative always helps in the positioning of something that is so iconic. I’d still like to consider myself as a big cinema enthusiast and someone who has a strong passion for films. I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the world premieres and walking the red carpet along with the contemporaries from the cinema world and to know that I am surrounded by some of the biggest, most reputed names from the various film industries is absolutely surreal.

Raja Kumari: Music and cinema have always had a confluence and they’ve always been connected. As a musician and songwriter, I’ve always been interested in film. And as a visual artist, I have always crossed the genre. I believe that coming to the Cannes Film Festival has inspired me to go further – behind or in front of the camera. Art can never be contained.

Masala: How does indē Wild stand out amongst other skin and hair care brands in the global market?

Diipa Khosla: At indē wild, we explore the global beauty industry while keeping tradition at the heart of our journey. From skin to the soul – we proudly embrace our South Asian heritage, indē Wild serves as a tribute to our roots.

indē wild is created for South Asian women – with their needs and comfort zone placed first. Our vision is to empower women by providing them with simple, impactful, and trustworthy skincare solutions. Our products are a blend of ancient Indian traditions with modern dermatology aka Ayurvedistry™; we bring the best of both!

Masala: Is there a lesson you learned on your way to success, that you would like to share?

Diipa Khosla: Embrace failure! Failure happens to everyone. It’s just a normal part of life. Don’t think of it as the end of the line, but rather a chance to grow and get better. When you mess up or face setbacks, it is important to not let it bring you down. Take some time to think about what went wrong, figure out what factors led to the failure, and see where you can make changes or learn something new.

Dolly Singh: No dream is too big. Most times we don’t let ourselves dream because they seem too big but from the small town of Nainital to come to Cannes is something I never dared to dream of but it has happened! I also believe that it’s very important to stay true to your roots and grounded, success and fame can be very intoxicating and it helps to have your feet on the ground at all times.

Raja Kumari: Authenticity is the key. There is only one you. It is always good to look at people and be inspired but it’s really important to know who you are. So spend the time to figure out who you are. The more authentic you are, the more believable it is. Doors will open for you. So, just be yourself.

Masala: One myth you’d like to burst about attending the Cannes Film Festival that many might not know about…

Diipa Khosla: Cannes is actually a lot of hard work. I wish it was all about dressing glamourous and watching movies like it seems but it is a demanding event. It requires meticulous planning, styling sessions, and endless meetings. But in the end, it’s all worth it, it is one of my favourite times of the year. I always look forward to Cannes Film Festival, the energy and enthusiasm we experience here are unmatched.

Dolly Singh: It’s madness out here! On social media, it looks like this fancy affair but in reality, it is not as effortless as it seems. Given the hectic schedules and the number of events, it’s a non-stop affair!

Raja Kumari: It’s absolutely chaotic. I think it’s really exciting. Everyone comes here and its the leveling field. Everyone has to pull it together in these insane moments as were all here to celebrate art, excellence, and for me, I’m just really happy to be representing Inde Wild and India because this is the first South Asian brand to be having a moment on the carpet. I find myself at the pioneering end of a lot of things and I’m happy that Deepa had the vision to bring me here and have me represent India.

Masala: Being an American-Indian, attending the Cannes Film Festival might make your inner Indian super proud. How do you feel about this much-awaited cultural acceptance?

Raja Kumari: It’s been really exciting. The last few years watching South Asians get a platform have our stories being told and being here as a South Asian-American, I’m really proud to represent who I am. It’s really exciting to see many South Asian creatives. Film are being show with the actors and directors, and it’s really exciting. I think this is a sign for what’s going to happen in the future and I hope we continue to grow and continue to be excellent.