Director Gurinder Chadha Struggles to Secure Funding for Diverse Films

Film director Gurinder Chadha has spoken out about the challenges of securing backing for projects featuring people of color, citing a lack of investor confidence. Chadha, known for directing the 2002 hit Bend It Like Beckham, expressed frustration over how financiers often view films with Asian leads as less commercially viable.

Chadha, who is British-Kenyan and of Indian descent, explained that her films, which frequently highlight the experiences of Asian communities, face difficulty attracting funding. Her upcoming film Christmas Karma, inspired by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, stars Indian actor Kunal Nayyar as a modern-day Scrooge.

"People talk about diversity, but in practice, it's not where I would have liked to have seen it by now," Chadha told BBC Radio London. She emphasized that the lack of investment in diverse films could hinder progress in the industry.

Despite the massive success of Bend It Like Beckham, which grossed £60 million on a budget of £3.5 million, Chadha feels financiers remain hesitant to fund her projects. "It’s all about money," she said, adding that she couldn't understand why the industry is so cautious despite the proven success of inclusive stories.

The British Film Institute (BFI) acknowledged the long-standing inequality in UK film representation and stated that its funding strategies are improving diversity. The BFI reported that 44% of directors receiving production funding for feature films in 2023/24 identified as Black or from the Global Majority, surpassing its target for London-based directors.

Chadha, who also directed Viceroy’s House (2017) and Blinded By The Light (2019), hopes her new film will shift attitudes. Christmas Karma will explore themes of identity, Britishness, and national direction, similar to the themes in Bend It Like Beckham. "It’s my 'Bend it Like Santa' film," she said of the upcoming release, which features Hugh Bonneville, Eva Longoria, and Kunal Nayyar.

Chadha remains hopeful that once Christmas Karma is released next year, viewers and investors alike will see the value of supporting diverse narratives in cinema.