Beautiful actress Akanksha Puri, who entered showbiz with Madhur Bhandarkar's "Calendar Girls", is now making her television debut with Sony Entertainment Television's forthcoming mythological show, "Vighnaharta Ganesh".
There are many artists in the entertainment industry who juggle television and films with ease. But Akanksha wants to focus only on one thing at a time. When asked if films will take a back seat as she has to devote most of her time to the show, she says, "When you do a show like "Vighnaharta Ganesh", you will have to be prepared for all this. I will be shooting for the show for 25-27 days a month, which leaves me with no time to do any other thing. So, as long as I am doing Vighnaharta Ganesh, I won’t take up any other project in hand."
Mythological shows come with a lot of challenges. Wearing elaborate costumes, heavy jewellery and makeup for 12 hours a day is not an easy task. But Puri has now become accustomed to all this. "Initially, it was difficult. But now I am so much comfortable with it that I feel I look good in that avatar only. I feel really proud and confident when I get into that getup."
The actress made her film debut with a film helmed by Madhur Bhandarkar and then forayed into south cinema and now television, that too, with a mythological character. Isn't she scared of getting typecast? "I don’t think an artist chooses a film. On the contrary, I believe that a film chooses its artist. I think most of the artists make this mistake that they do the same kind of roles back to back and somehow typecast themselves. I don’t want to make this mistake. The main reason I chose this show was that I wanted to prove people that I can do this also. As an artist, I want to show all my variations. I chose this profession to do that only."
Generally, when a film star takes up a fictional role on television, the film offers almost dry up for them. When Akanksha was asked about the same, she states, "I don’t think nowadays there is any restriction like that. I can do movies even after doing this show. I haven’t closed any option. I haven’t restricted myself. All my options are open always. If someone offers me a good movie, I’ll do that. If a film comes from down south and my role is good in it, I’ll do it. I have never restricted myself as an actor."
"Vighnaharta Ganesh", starring Malkhan Singh, Akanksha Puri and Uzair Basar as Shiva, Parvati and Ganesh respectively, is all set for its premiere on 22nd August on Sony Entertainment Television.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.