Chopra Jonas positions the project as a mission to amplify original creative visions, describing the film as a 'refreshing, witty take' on timely subjects that deserves the spotlight.
Insiders note the strategic alignment of Chopra Jonas, V, and Andrew Scott backing a project that blends Hollywood star power with indie credibility, positioning it as a serious awards contender rather than just a celebrity vanity project.
The short 'We Were Here' has screened at over 80 festivals and won more than 20 awards, including the Canal+ Prize at Clermont-Ferrand and Best Live-Action Short Under 15 Minutes at Palm Springs, which made it Oscar-eligible.
With a heavyweight EP roster, a festival track record that screams 'Oscar bait,' and a prestigious New Yorker premiere, this mockumentary is poised to be one of the most talked-about shorts of the season.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has officially shifted gears from acting to high-stakes producing, signing on as an executive producer for Pranav Bhasin’s Oscar-qualified Indian short film, "We Were Here." The announcement confirms that the global star is joining forces with Tony-winning activist-playwright V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) and Irish actor Andrew Scott to back a project that has already made serious waves on the festival circuit. This isn't just a passive endorsement; it’s a strategic alliance of three major names in entertainment lending their weight to a story about technology, tradition, and stubbornness. The film itself is a mockumentary set in a small Indian town, where three retirees—played by Satish Kashyap, Devendra Dodke, and Arindol Bagchi—believe machines are stealing human jobs. Their solution? To mount a protest by posing as household appliances. The plot thickens when one of their children goes to work for an artificial intelligence company, throwing their campaign into disarray. Bhasin, who wrote and directed the piece, described the origin of the film as a "small, silly idea" that evolved into a love letter to his characters' resilience. He noted that in India, reality is often stranger than fiction, and the mockumentary format allowed him to root the absurdity in real people and places. Chopra Jonas’ involvement is framed as a passion project for amplifying diverse voices. "This film offers a refreshing, witty take on a subject that feels very timely," Chopra Jonas said in a statement. "I jumped at the opportunity to come on board as an executive producer to amplify this creative team and ensure their brilliant, original vision gets the spotlight it deserves." The executive producer roster is extensive, including Peter S. Kim and Nalini Sharma of Basement Video, Neha Kaul, Megha Kadakia, Priya Giri Desai, and Shruti Ganguly of Prism Entertainment, among others. The film is presented by Aarti Lohia and SPLF Media, with production led by Yash Gonsai through Sunshine Pictures. Crucially, the short has secured a major distribution deal that will boost its visibility heading into awards season. The New Yorker has acquired the film and will premiere it on the magazine’s YouTube channels, giving the Oscar-qualified project a prestigious digital launch platform. This acquisition underscores the industry's confidence in the film's quality and its potential to reach a wider audience beyond the festival circuit. Yash Gonsai previously served as an executive producer on Pan Nalin’s "Last Film Show," which made the international feature shortlist at the 95th Academy Awards, and recently teamed with Dharma Productions on Neeraj Ghaywan’s "Homebound," which was shortlisted at the 98th Academy Awards. Pranav Bhasin himself is a prodigy, having directed films by age 13 and created his first series for TVF by 17. His previous short "Wolf of Chawl Street" won the Silver Dimensions prize at the Mumbai Film Festival in 2017. With "We Were Here" already collecting over 20 awards and screening at more than 80 festivals, including winning the audience award at SXSW, the stage is set for a major awards season push.
