It is no secret that Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez is gearing up to make her Hollywood debut with an anthology film titled Women's Stories. Consisting of six segments, the upcoming film has been directed by female directors from across the world and also features an all-female cast. Fernandez headlines Indian filmmaker Leena Yadav's directorial Sharing A Ride, alongside transgender model Anjali Lama.
If fresh reports are to be believed, Jacqueline Fernandez plays the character of a cop in the anthology film. The actress had wrapped up the project in October 2020, before she commenced work on Tips Industries’ horror-comedy Bhoot Police with Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, and Yami Gautam. A major portion of the segment was shot in Mumbai including some sequences at CST police station.
Co-produced by Iervolino Entertainment and non-profit production company We Do It Together, Women’s Stories will see filmmakers Maria Sole Tognazzi, Lucia Puenzo and Catherine Hardwicke coming together to direct the anthology film which aims at showcasing the stories of women from different walks of life. The film also stars Cara Delevingne, Eva Longoria, Leonor Varela, Margherita Buy, and Marcia Gay Harden.
Apart from Women’s Stories, Jacqueline Fernandez has several other interesting projects in her pocket. As mentioned before, she next stars in Bhoot Police which marks her foray into the horror-comedy zone. The actress will follow it up with filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s much-awaited film Cirkus, also starring Ranveer Singh and Pooja Hegde in lead roles. She is also doing two back-to-back films with superstar Akshay Kumar, namely Bachchan Pandey and Ram Setu. Buzz has it that the actress is set to reunite with superstar Salman Khan in the sequel to their 2014 blockbuster Kick.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the glitzy world of entertainment.
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.