Vedang Raina and Khushi Kapoor shine at India Couture Week
‘The Archies’ stars look forward to collaborate on a future project again
By Eastern EyeJul 30, 2024
ACTORS Vedang Raina and Khushi Kapoor, who debuted with The Archies last year, are eager to collaborate on a project again. They became the showstoppers for designer Gaurav Gupta's latest collection Arunodaya at India Couture Week.
Kapoor dazzled in a silver lehenga featuring an off-shoulder blouse, cape-styled sleeves, and a mermaid skirt. The outfit, encrusted with crystals and adorned with delicate silver zardozi embroidery and beadwork, was complemented by her open hair and heavy statement jewellery.
Kapoor, 23, who made her runway debut with Gupta's show, said they have come to share a comfort level with the actor after The Archies.
"Yeah, 100 percent! I feel like when you are comfortable with a person, it makes things less hard and you don't get nervous as much because you are in the comfort of the other person. So definitely," she told PTI.
Raina, 24, who wore a black sherwani with elegant detailing and black pants, said he and Kapoor have known each other for some time now and there is a certain level of comfort between them.
On working together again he said, "Yes, most definitely!"
"I think we have known each other for a while now and there is a lot of comfort with us, comfort on set, comfort in our companionship. We would love to do a film for sure," he concluded.
Gupta's collection included gowns with futuristic designs, saris, lehengas and tops and skirts for women whereas menswear had sherwanis, kurtas, and formals.
The colour palette ranged from maroon to silver, white, grey and black and most of the looks were complemented with heavy jewellery.
Gupta, who had also presented his collection at the Paris Haute Couture Week earlier, called the actors an adorable couple and believes they are "future faces of India."
"Khushi and Vedang are such an adorable couple and you can feel the love with them. They are just so adorable. I feel like they are the future faces of India."
Describing his collection, he said, "It's all about light. We have used a lot of zardozi, beads, embroideries and futuristic shapes."
Raina and Kapoor's debut film The Archies was released on December 7 last year. It also marked the debut of star kids Suhana Khan and Agastya Nanda.
India Couture Week 2024 began on July 24 and will conclude on July 31. Designers like Rahul Mishra, Jayanti Reddy, Dolly J, Amit Aggarwal and JJ Valaya have already showcased their collections and Falguni Shane Peacock is the finale designer. (PTI)
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.