Gratitude. Fear. Pride. Pain. Hope. Love. All at once. I only hope this film touches hearts | Rajshekhar
Today is one of the most emotional days of my life. A dream that lived silently in my heart for years has finally comes alive on the screen. My story and screenplay have now become a Bollywood feature film — SEPTEMBER 21. This film was not written from imagination alone. It was born from heartbreak. I have watched people I love slowly disappear into the darkness of Alzheimer’s, memory by memory, day by day. I have seen familiar eyes lose recognition, conversations fade into silence, and families break quietly while trying to stay strong.
But the people who touched my soul the most were the caregivers. The wife who does not sleep through the night. The son pretending to be strong while falling apart inside. The daughter who gives up her own life without complaint. The nurse who becomes a part of the family. The friend who refuses to give up or walk away. These invisible people carry the unbearable emotional weight every single day without recognition, appreciation, or support. They sacrifice sleep, peace, health, careers, relationships, and sometimes even themselves, just to protect the fragile world of someone they love deeply. SEPTEMBER 21 is my tribute to those silent warriors. Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. Behind every patient stands a family fighting a lonely, exhausting, heartbreaking battle that most of the world never sees.
This film belongs to them.
What began as a whisper in my heart transformed into a film because extraordinary people believed in it. I am very grateful to Karen Kshiti Suvarna, the brilliant 22-year-old director who took up this story with rare courage, honesty, and sensitivity, and to the incredible teams at VISICA FILMS, Humara Movie, and the Belgian production house FOX.ON STAGE.BE for helping bring this deeply personal dream to life.
The film has been made in Hindi, English, and Kannada so that its message can travel beyond borders, languages, and cultures. Today, 16 May 2026, SEPTEMBER 21 premieres globally at Cannes. The Pan-India theatrical release is scheduled for 22 May through PVR INOX Cinemas, and the film is now listed on BookMyShow.
I honestly do not know how to describe what I feel today. Gratitude. Fear. Pride. Pain. Hope. Love. All at once. I only hope this film touches hearts. I hope it starts conversations that families are afraid to have or avoid. I hope it makes us look at Alzheimer’s, caregiving, memory, love, and human dignity differently. And when the screen finally fades to white, I hope this story stays with you. If this message touches you even a little, please support the film by sharing it. Help us take this story and its message to as many people as possible. Your support means more to me than words can ever express.
With love and gratitude,
Raj Shekhar
Teaser:
Super proud to have written the story and script for this film- SEPTEMBER 21- The film that is made with love, care and sensitivity – check out the First teaser of this film in the unmistakable voice of Kailash Kher .
