Swiss actress Jacqueline Fritschi-Cornaz embarked on her first visit to India with the intention of meeting Bollywood executives and making connections in the entertainment industry. However, during her trip, she found herself deeply moved by the plight of street children living in extreme poverty in Mumbai. This experience sparked a new passion within her, which is reflected in the upcoming film “Mother Teresa & Me,” set to release on October 5th. In the film, Fritschi-Cornaz portrays Mother Teresa, who was declared a saint on September 4th, 2016, by Pope Francis.
Fritschi-Cornaz revealed that she started working on this project 14 years ago, after her encounter with street children in Mumbai. She asked a producer if he had ever considered making a film about Mother Teresa, and though he found the idea fascinating, there was no funding available in Bollywood. Undeterred, Fritschi-Cornaz, along with her husband Richard Fritschi and lawyer Thierry Cagianut, established the Zariya Foundation in Zurich. Over a period of 10 years, the foundation raised the budget for the film through donations and foundation money.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, the film was successfully shot and is now ready for release worldwide. The net proceeds from the film will be used to support grassroots programs and foundations that strive to uplift the destitute, sick, disabled, abandoned children, and orphans, improving healthcare and education for those most in need.
“Mother Teresa & Me” is a fictionalized story based on the real-life of Mother Teresa. The film follows the journey of Kavita, a modern young woman of Indian origin living in London, who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and contemplates an abortion. Kavita travels back to India to meet her childhood nanny, Deepali, who was adopted by Mother Teresa as a child. As Deepali shares stories of her past, Kavita starts to relive the early years of Mother Teresa’s life in the slums of Calcutta. The film explores how the real human story of Mother Teresa inspires Kavita to find strength and make important decisions about her pregnancy, life, relationships, and family.
Fritschi-Cornaz was initially unaware of Mother Teresa’s private letters, which were published in 2007 and revealed her inner conflicts, doubts, and loss of faith. Fritschi-Cornaz found it inspiring to see how Mother Teresa stayed committed to her vision and vocation despite her hardships. This knowledge also helped her prepare for the role, as playing a well-known figure is a significant challenge for any actor.
To better understand the character of Mother Teresa, Fritschi-Cornaz conducted extensive research. She watched footage of Mother Teresa speaking, met with her relatives in Skopje, volunteered at one of the homes she founded in Calcutta, and even learned to speak English with an Albanian accent. During her research, Fritschi-Cornaz was deeply moved by the loneliness Mother Teresa felt during her spiritual crisis.
Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, and Pope Francis described her as a “generous dispenser of divine mercy.” Born in Skopje, North Macedonia, Mother Teresa was of Albanian heritage and answered her calling to religious life at a young age. She left home at 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland.
“Mother Teresa & Me” aims to give audiences a glimpse into the humanity and struggles of this revered figure, inspiring viewers to believe in their own dreams and visions. And just like Mother Teresa, Fritschi-Cornaz hopes to make a positive impact by using the film’s proceeds to support charitable causes.
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