Women in Film India is a new mental wellness program designed specifically for women filmmakers to address the mental strain of working in the entertainment industry.
The organization has launched “The Resilience Playbook”, a six-week workshop series focused on mental health and emotional sustainability for women working in the Indian film industry. This immersive program aims to provide participants with the tools to cope with the pressures of an industry characterized by constant reinvention, rejection, and harsh working conditions.
Led by wellness practitioner and life coach Chetna Chakravarthy, this workshop moves beyond traditional self-care approaches and focuses on building confidence, clarity, and self-esteem as professional skills essential to creative longevity. The peer-led format allows women filmmakers to re-establish balance and recommit to their creative endeavors in a supportive environment.
The initiative comes as global conversations around burnout and mental health accelerate the restructuring of creative industries, with WIF India positioning mental health as a professional necessity rather than a personal luxury.
“We are a freelancer-based industry and a creative ecosystem that thrives on independent talent, but that comes with great uncertainty,” said Guneet Monga Kapur, Academy Award-winning producer (“Elephant Whisperers”) and founder of WIF India. “To truly unleash our creativity, what we need most is resilience. This is a core skill that allows us to endure, adapt, and carve out a place for ourselves in this ever-changing industry.”
The program addresses particularly acute challenges for women in the film industry, who often face systemic inequalities and intense scrutiny, along with the long hours, irregular schedules, and relentless pace common to film production. WIF India points out that while discussions around opportunity and representation are growing, the emotional cost of sustaining a career in the industry remains largely unconsidered.
“This program is our safe haven, a place where we can shed our armor, become soft and still feel strong,” said Rabia Chopra, Program Development Officer, WIF India. “Vulnerability is our sharpest intelligence, and resilience is built when we support each other.”
WIF India provides grants to enable participants to attend workshops. Monga Kapoor noted the impact Chakravarthy has had on her both personally and professionally and highlighted the organization’s commitment to providing these resources.
This initiative represents WIF India’s broader mission to redefine empowerment in film beyond visibility and access to include balance, belonging, and the emotional foundation needed for sustained creative work.
