Modi's US visit: Will these Indian-American guests attend the state dinner?
Here's a look at the speculative list of celebrities of Indian origin expected to break bread with PM Modi, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the US for a three-day visit. While he has visited the US several times as PM before, this is his first state visit to the United States of America and will include a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in his honour at the White House on June 22.
A host of celebrities are expected to attend the grand state dinner on Thursday, and here’s a look at the speculative list of celebrities of Indian origin who are expected to break bread with PM Modi, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden later today at the White House.
Priyanka Chopra: Born on 18 July 1982, Priyanka Chopra has established herself as a force to reckon with in the global entertainment industry. She rose to stardom after winning the coveted Miss World title in 2000. Her electric filmography boasts several Bollywood and Hollywood blockbusters. In 2022, Chopra was named in the BBC 100 Women list. She was most recently seen in the Russo Brothers’ Prime Video show, Citadel.
Mindy Kaling: Vera Mindy Chokalingam, better known as Mindy Kaling, is a well-known actress, comedian, and screenwriter. Born on June 24, 1979, Kaling is the daughter of Indian immigrants. As an actress and screenwriter, she has such successful shows as The Office and The Mindy Project to her credit. She is currently in the news for her hit Netflix show, Never Have I Ever.
Kunal Nayyar: Born on 30 April 1981, Kunal Nayyar is known for playing painfully shy physicist Raj Koothrappali on the globally popular show, The Big Bang Theory. He has also played pivotal roles in films like Ice Age: Continental Drift, Dr. Cabbie, and Trolls. Forbes listed Nayyar as the world’s third-highest-paid television actor in 2015 and 2018.
Padma Lakshmi: Emmy-nominated producer, television host, philanthropist, food expert, and a New York Times best-selling author, Padma Lakshmi hosted the cooking competition show Top Chef on Bravo continuously from 2006 to 2023. In 2023, she was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.
M Night Shyamalan: M. Night Shyamalan is an Indian-born American filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor who is best known for making psychological thrillers with contemporary supernatural plots and twist endings. Some of his most successful films include The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, and Split.
Freida Pinto: Bron and brought up in India, Freida Pinto mainly works in American and British films. She shot to global stardom with her debut film Slumdog Millionaire. She is currently filming for the upcoming British film My Mother's Wedding, co-starring Scott Thomas, Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, and Emily Beecham.
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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