‘Dear Men’ Premieres on World Day Against Trafficking: Sayani Gupta and Keith Gomes Bring Stark Reality to Light
Mumbai, July 30 (TheTrendingPeople): In a bold cinematic move, actor Sayani Gupta and director Keith Gomes have released their short film Dear Men on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, aiming to confront audiences with the brutal truths of human trafficking still prevalent in modern-day India.
The film, inspired by true events, brings to screen the heroic and harrowing story of Dipesh Tank, a social activist and recipient of the Governor’s Medal, who went undercover as a Bollywood director to rescue two minor girls trafficked into the sex trade from a remote village in Bihar.
A Story That Hits Close to Home
Sayani Gupta, who plays the central role in Dear Men, emphasized the relevance and urgency of the film's subject matter.
“Dear Men is a reminder that these stories of human trafficking are not from another time, or another world. They’re happening right now—sometimes just a few kilometres away from where we live, eat, and scroll,” she shared.
The actress described the role as one of the most emotionally demanding of her career, one that required her to dive deep into the psychological space of survivors.
“It wasn’t easy. But it felt necessary,” she said. “Working with Keith was a treat—he’s a filmmaker who trusts silences over dialogue, and that trust allowed me to explore something quieter, more primal.”
A Mission Born Out of Desperation and Courage
Director Keith Gomes has chosen an unpolished, intimate filmmaking style—shot on handheld cameras and using natural light—to lend authenticity to the gripping narrative.
“We didn’t release Dear Men on this day for symbolism,” Gomes stated. “We did it because this day strips away our denial—and that’s what this film does too. It doesn’t let you look away.”
The filmmaker recalled how he was moved when he first read about Dipesh Tank’s operation.
“It didn’t feel like a hero’s journey. It felt like a man acting on pure instinct, putting everything on the line because the system had failed two girls,” Gomes said.
According to him, the film is not packaged with hope or polished optimism—it simply sits with the uncomfortable truth.
Dipesh Tank: The Man Behind the Mission
Dipesh Tank’s words carry the weight of real-life experience.
“The first time I walked into a trafficking hotspot, I didn’t feel like a rescuer. I felt like an intruder—someone who had stumbled into a parallel world where childhood had an expiry date,” Tank said.
He praised the film for creating awareness about the issue that is often seen as just another headline.
“We must stop pretending the issue is far away. It isn’t. It’s closer than we think,” he added. “Every rescue writes a new ending. And in this fight, the only direction is forward—until no child is left behind.”
A Wake-Up Call for the Audience
With the film premiering on Keith Gomes’ YouTube channel, Dear Men has already begun to stir conversation around one of the most disturbing humanitarian crises in India.
Sayani Gupta hopes the film goes beyond evoking sympathy.
“I hope it leaves people with questions—because that’s where change begins,” she concluded.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
In an age where viral content often drowns out voices that truly matter, Dear Men serves as a rare example of cinema with purpose. Released strategically on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, it reminds us that behind statistics lie real lives, real pain—and real hope. This is not just a film. It’s a call to action.