ACTRESS Kriti Sanon has made a big impact in Bollywood in a short span of time and in the process, got herself a rapidly growing fan base.
Die-hard admirer Zeeshan (@Being_Zeeshaan) from Bangalore, India runs a fan club dedicated to the talented star. Eastern Eye caught up with Zeeshan to find out more.
What made you set up the fan club?
I became a fan the moment I saw Kriti in the Heropanti trailer. Her smile and looks were fabulous, but when I actually saw her acting, I was damn sure she was going to be a top
actress. So I decided to open a fan club named @KritiSanonCafe to bring every news, photos and more related to her.
Tell us more about your fan club?
At @KritiSanonCafe, you have the latest updates, high quality photos, events, videos, fan messages and more. So the best thing is to stay connected to our fan club and get all
the updates if you are a fan.
Tell us your memorable moment?
My most memorable moment would be the day Kriti followed me on Twitter. The best gift any fan can get is when their favourite celebrity follows them. Another memorable moment
was when she wished me on my birthday using my real name. I can’t thank her enough for all this.
What is the best thing you like about Kriti Sanon?
Our fan club is whole-heartedly dedicated to our very own beautiful person, inside and out, Kriti. I like everything about her and the choices of movies she makes.
What is your favourite work Kriti has done?
My favourite is when a fan requested us to tell Kriti that it’s their birthday and she wished that person, which made their day even more special. Whenever Kriti takes time out of her busy schedule for fans, even if it’s only five minutes, it makes us all so happy.
Tell us an interesting fact about your idol?
Kriti doesn’t sign movies just for the sake of doing them. She waits for good scripts and strong roles. She’s a huge fan of Madhuri Dixit and wants to dance and act like her. Kriti
is also a private person, but we love her work and she’s here to entertain us.
What is your definition of a true fan?
A true fan would support their idol even in their bad times and also when their movies don’t do good at the box-office. A fan should love their idol’s personality and respect their privacy.
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.
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