Despite a recent stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Tannishtha Chatterjee is set to open the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS) with her directorial venture, "Full Plate". The actress-filmmaker revealed that the film was born out of “struggle, grit and hope”.

Chatterjee, known for her roles in films like "Joram," "Parched," and "Angry Indian Goddesses," shared her diagnosis of stage 4 oligo metastatic cancer in an emotional Instagram post. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received from family, friends, and colleagues, including Shabana Azmi, Dia Mirza, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Vidya Balan.

Oligometastatic cancer is a stage where the disease has spread, but not widely, typically affecting only a few areas. It is considered different from advanced metastatic cancer and may respond better to focused therapies.

Despite the challenges, Chatterjee remains focused on her work and is grateful for the kindness and love she has discovered during this difficult time. She is balancing her career with raising her nine-year-old daughter and caring for her 70-year-old mother.

The Indian Film Festival of Sydney will be celebrating its 16th year of showcasing the best in Indian cinema and from the subcontinent. The 2025 edition will be both online and physical. The festival will include screenings, discussions, and celebrations of Indian Subcontinent Cinema.

Another major Indian film event in Australia is the National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), which will run from February 13 to March 2, 2025, across seven cities. NIFFA aims to connect India and Australia through cinema and will showcase a diverse range of films, industry events, and celebrations of Indian culture. Tannishtha Chatterjee's directorial debut, "Rome Roam Mein," will be the closing night film at NIFFA.

Chatterjee's career has included roles in both Hindi and English independent films. She gained recognition for her performance in "Brick Lane" (2007), for which she received a British Independent Film Award nomination. She has also appeared in films such as "Anna Karenina" (2012), "Monsoon Shootout" (2013), and "Sunrise" (2014). For her role in "Dekh Indian Circus," she won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film).