‘If This Film Can Save Even One Woman’s Life, It’s the Greatest Blessing’: Taha Shah Badussha on the Impact of Paro

After Heeramandi, the actor steps into a powerful, socially urgent role that’s already moving audiences worldwide

The North News

Chandigarh , June 23

Following his breakout global recognition in Heeramandi, actor Taha Shah Badussha is diving into far deeper and more unsettling territory with his upcoming film Paro — a gritty, unflinching drama based on the disturbing real-life practice of bridal slavery.

The film, which recently made waves with screenings at both the Cannes Film Festival and Oxford University, has already left audiences shaken. And that reaction, Taha says, is the point.

“After Heeramandi, I took on Paro because it deals with something real, raw, and heartbreaking — bridal slavery. At our screenings, people walked out in silence. No claps, just stunned silence. And someone asked me, ‘What’s the best compliment you’ve received for this film?’ I told them: when a film leaves people speechless, that’s the biggest response a filmmaker can hope for. That’s when you know it hit them where it should.”

For Taha, Paro goes beyond performance — it’s about purpose.

“I want to be part of stories that carry weight. If the message in Paro reaches the right people, and if it saves even one woman’s life… then I think that’s the greatest blessing any of us could ask for.”

More than just a film, Paro is a call to conscience — shedding light on a hidden, horrifying reality. In a time when storytelling is more visible than ever, Paro is a reminder that cinema still has the power to confront, challenge, and catalyze change.