Ridhi Dogra, known for delivering engrossing performances in several successful daily soaps and streaming shows, is gearing up to set her foot in Bollywood with the upcoming action-drama Lakadbaggha.
The film, which also stars Anshuman Jha, will see Dogra play the character of a Crime Branch Officer in Kolkata and has some serious action sequences. To nail those sequences, the actress has already begun training with her co-star, Anshuman Jha.
“When you set out to do the kind of work you wish to do, it finds you. I am not the kind of an actor who will simply jump to be a part of a film. It has to be meaningful. The process has to have some purpose. Which is why I have chosen Lakadbaggha to be my feature film debut,” Dogra said in a statement.
She added, “I have always chosen to pick teams with depth over the superficial things which are important otherwise. The vibe, energy and passion is important. And from the first moment I saw Anshuman talk about the film, I knew I wanted to be a part of his process because there was passion, conviction and clarity. He as an Actor is so involved that I wanted to be a part of that world he was so passionately envisaging.”
“The icing on the cake is that the script has a humane point of you. I am thrilled and relieved because this is the kind of work I wish to do and the kind of team I want to collaborate with. Very rarely does one come across an action film whose story, at its core, is universal and has heart. And this character – a Catholic-Bengali cop, a bad ass cop, in Kolkata, very evolved and righteous, yet loving and passionate. I may have played a forensic cop before but this is very different - she takes things head on; she is in charge. She is a woman in power vis-à-vis a woman who is part of the team in power and that excites me. This character has empowered me in a way – training for the action with Vicky and Anshuman. Also, this character kicks ass (literally). I am really enjoying the workshops and am looking forward to collaborating with Anshuman & doing Action for the first time & doing justice to it.”
Anshuman Jha, who last played a homosexual man in Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele opposite Zareen Khan, has been training for 4 months in Krav Maga.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the 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.
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