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For Kashika Kapoor, Moscow isn’t just another international destination, it is a city with the visual range to become an integral part of the story. Having recently experienced the Russian capital, the actor was struck by its mix of grand architecture, old-world streets, winters, contemporary spaces and vibrant nightlife, seeing strong potential for Indian films, music videos and commercials.

When asked which Indian film she could imagine finding an interesting setting in Moscow, Kapoor says Tamasha immediately came to mind.

“I think Tamasha is a film that could have been incredibly interesting in Moscow. There’s something about the city that feels cinematic without trying too hard; the grand architecture, the old-world streets, the winters, even the mood of the city. It has this beautiful contrast between grandeur and intimacy.

I can almost imagine a character going through an emotional or transformational phase there, because Moscow has a certain mystery to it. You could shoot something very romantic, but you could also make it feel introspective and slightly haunting. That versatility is what I find really exciting.”

That versatility, she believes, extends beyond traditional cinematic storytelling. Moscow’s contemporary side; from its restaurants and cafés to its nightlife; opens up another visual vocabulary for commercial cinema and music videos.

“Absolutely. I think that’s one of the sides of Moscow that surprised me.

There is this perception of Moscow as very grand, historic and traditional, but then you experience the restaurants, cafés, nightlife and the younger, more contemporary side of the city and you realise how much range there is.

For commercial cinema and music videos, that is fantastic because you can create something aspirational and glamorous without it feeling generic. You can have fashion, luxury, nightlife and romance and then juxtapose that with the city’s incredible architecture.

For a filmmaker, that’s a playground.”

For Kapoor, it is this combination of scale, atmosphere and contemporary energy that gives Moscow the potential to offer Indian productions something distinct; a city that can move from romance and introspection to fashion, luxury and nightlife, while remaining visually rooted in its own identity.