An internationally celebrated filmmaker whose work shines a light on some of society’s most urgent issues. Creator of the Emmy-winning Delhi Crime and the acclaimed wildlife-crime series Poacher, he is known for combining compelling storytelling with rigorous research. His body of work also includes award-winning films such as Siddharth and Amal, which received recognition at major international festivals and brought important human stories to global audiences.
An Academy member and globally recognised filmmaker whose stories have reached audiences in over 100 countries. Best known for Last Film Show, India’s Oscar-shortlisted entry, as well as celebrated films like Samsara and Angry Indian Goddesses, his work blends emotional depth with striking visual storytelling. With selections at renowned festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and Tribeca, he has earned widespread international acclaim and numerous global awards.
A business leader driving innovation and climate action across industry, research, and philanthropy. At Aarti Industries, he has helped strengthen one of India’s leading R&D ecosystems, while through Spectrum Impact he supports climate-focused organisations working on solutions ranging from green hydrogen and carbon capture to circular materials. He also leads initiatives such as SCALE and ITRI, advancing collaboration, research, and real-world impact for a more sustainable future.
Founder of Climate Spring, a global organisation supporting storytelling that reshapes how society understands the climate crisis. A leading expert in narrative change, she works across philanthropy, social enterprise, and international development, bringing together creators, funders, and institutions to accelerate climate action. Her work has also included advising governments and UN organisations on driving impact through storytelling and innovation.
One of India’s most acclaimed filmmakers, known for Shahid, Aligarh, Scam 1992, Citylights, and Omertà. His work explores complex social and political realities with empathy, nuance, and authenticity. With films premiering at leading international festivals including TIFF and the BFI London Film Festival, and a National Award for Best Direction, his storytelling continues to spark meaningful conversations in India and around the world.
A strategic leader in philanthropy and international development with over two decades of experience across India, South Asia, and the UK. Currently leading global partnerships and fundraising at The Convergence Foundation, she has also played key roles at the British Asian Trust and the UK India Business Council, helping advance innovative approaches to social impact. Drawn to the question of how narratives shape behaviour and systems, she shares Civic Studios’ belief that research-backed storytelling can be as powerful a catalyst for change as policy or programmes.
Shruti is Senior Lead – Climate Communications & Partnerships at Civic Studios, with 7+ years of experience bridging science and society through innovative storytelling and public engagement. She has led science festivals across the UK, Malta, the UAE, and India. Previously worked with FAST India, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and organisations including Superheroes Against Superbugs and the Science Journalists Association of India. Outside work, she enjoys gardening, travelling, trekking, running, and swimming.
Shalaka is a Business and Partnerships Associate at Civic Studios. With 2+ years across international organisations and grassroots NGOs, she specialises in partnership development and stakeholder engagement at the intersection of humanitarian and climate action. She believes real change requires understanding the system, finding its cracks, and following the thread back to people. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, horse riding, reading, and curating evenings with friends, and deeply convinced the more you put yourself out there, the more you find out.
Hrushikesh is a Senior Climate Communications and Research Associate at Civic Studios with 5+ years of experience across journalism, law, and climate storytelling. He has previously worked as an independent journalist and environmental lawyer with the Goa Foundation and was awarded the Chevening Scholarship to pursue an MSc in Environment and Development at LSE (2024–25). A multiple Laadli Award winner and CANSA-QOC climate reporting fellow, he has written extensively on the impact of heatwaves on vulnerable communities. Outside work, he enjoys theatre, Marathi fiction, football, and swimming in rivers across the Western Ghats with his dog.
Eric leads Marketing at Civic Studios, bringing over 13 years of experience across OTT, Sports and Entertainment with brands like Lionsgate Play, Dream11, Zee and 9X Media. He is passionate about storytelling that builds culture and conversations.
Outside work, Eric enjoys off-roading, cooking, and travelling, often finding inspiration in people, places, and the outdoors.
Mayurpankhi is a Research Associate at Civic Studios. With around 4 years of experience at the intersection of policy research and advocacy, her previous work has spanned across the development, education, and health sectors. Curious about exploring social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) strategies, she is especially passionate about education and gender issues. With TV as a constant companion since childhood, true crime and horror are her comfort watch. Outside of work, she loves reading, writing, and singing.
Sehar Abdullah is a Research Associate at Civic Studios. While dabbling with media and research is new for her, storytelling has always been close to her heart. It’s through theories and stories that Sehar believes that we are able to make sense of the world we inhabit. In her free time, she almost always hopes to read more to understand her world more.
Sneha Nair is the Impact and Partnerships Associate at Civic Studios, bringing over 5 years of diverse experience in media and the development sector. She has worked with The Storiculture Company, SHASN: Azadi, and the People’s Archive of Rural India. Passionate about storytelling for change, Sneha explores narratives that inspire and engage. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, swimming, and seeking new adventures.
Aviya Chadha is the Sales and Acquisitions Associate at Civic Studios with 5 years of experience. Her journey includes festival programming at MAMI and IFFI, acquiring prestigious world cinema titles at Alliance Media & Entertainment, and fostering talent at The Storiculture Company. Passionate about discovering new voices and creators, she aims to help audiences engage with bold and impactful cinema. In her free time, Aviya enjoys salsa and swing dancing, cooking, and experimenting with Instagram recipes.
Shambhav Pande is a Creative Producer at Civic Studios with 7 years of industry experience. He has delved in ads, long form nonfiction & fiction. He has worked on notable shows such as Murder in Mahim (Jio Cinema), Call My Agent (Netflix), Bhaukaal, Chakravyuh, Times of Music (Mx Player), and Unacademy Unwind (MTV). His short film Kitaabi Keeda, which he wrote and directed, was recently honored by the Amar Ujala Group. In his free time, Shambhav enjoys composing music, singing, reading, writing poetry, and watching films and shows.
Shivani M. Vyas is a Creative Producer at Civic Studios with 8 years of experience. Born in North London and raised in India, she brings a unique approach to storytelling, focusing on the impact of cultural heritage across generations and the theme of climate change. In her free time, she enjoys restoring archival photographs.
Saumya is a Social Media Associate at Civic Studios. She is bringing 3 years of experience with upGrad, the edtech company, with specialization in organic social media marketing. She blends Gen Z and millennial insights to create impactful, data-driven content strategies. Her creativity is also expressed through her passion for performing arts, culinary skills, baking, and painting.
Hasri is a Creative Associate at Civic Studios. Her 7 years of experience in the Media & Entertainment industry includes director’s assistantship, script supervision, and screenwriting, on projects like Conditions Apply and Good Morning (Amazon miniTv), Jubin Nautiyal’s Tum Aye Ho Toh (Youtube), and Bad Cop (Hotstar). Her heart is in the intersection of storytelling and community building. Hasri is also passionate about mental & emotional health awareness, and climate change.
Mahvash is a Senior Marketing Associate at Civic Studios, bringing 6+ years of experience in marketing and entertainment. She has worked on campaigns for major studios including T-Series, RSVP, Zee Studios, and Amazon Prime Video, and has hands-on experience across photoshoots, production, PR, influencer collaborations, and digital strategy.
At Civic Studios, she leads digital marketing & PR for global projects, climate media initiatives, and impact-driven storytelling. Outside of work, Mahvash loves exploring new places, discovering local culture and food.
Yogesh Saini is the Head of Marketing at Civic Studios and a seasoned marketing professional with over 17 years of experience in the Media & Entertainment industry. He has previously held senior positions with leading companies such as The Viral Fever (TVF), Fox Star Studios, Walt Disney India, and Moser Baer Entertainment, where he spearheaded marketing for Hollywood and Bollywood films, OTT shows, home entertainment, and consumer products.
He holds an MBA in Business Analytics from BITS Pilani and a Postgraduate Degree in Mass Media from MET Institute, Mumbai. Outside of work, Yogesh enjoys music, travel, and exploring diverse content.
Narad is the Office Assistant at Civic Studios in our Mumbai office. He started his career in exporting food grains from Bihar to Nepal from the years 1998 to 2005. In 2006, he came to Mumbai and started working as a production spot boy in the film & television industry. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his kids.
Shrey Jain is a Senior Creative Producer at Civic Studios. With a little over 5 years in the media business, he has previously worked on shows like Scam 1992 and Scam 2003 at Applause Entertainment. His proficiency lies in developing and producing original concepts, international formats and book adaptations, while establishing strong partnership with creative partners to source and commission content. An alumnus of AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, Shrey wants to make thought-provoking, intelligent and entertaining content. Outside work, Shrey likes reading, writing, and playing video and board games.
Namrata is the Director of Impact & Partnerships at Civic Studios. Her domain expertise lies at the intersection of gender, education, and media for social impact. Since 2012, she has worked in the international development sector in South East Asia & Africa across the domains of research, strategy/intervention design, and impact evaluations. Outside work, Namrata finds joy in exploring bookstores and watching live shows.
Shuchi is a Social Media Associate at Civic Studios. Despite graduating as a lawyer in 2018, her creative streak led her to swiftly embrace the dynamic world of social media and digital marketing. Beyond her knack for crafting compelling content, she is an avid cinephile who finds joy in the world of movies. Her love for music and strategic board games reflects her ability to approach challenges with a mix of creativity and strategic thinking.
Rachel is our Operations Associate and the inaugural member of our London, UK office. With over a decade of corporate experience, she has held executive assistantship positions at The London Stock Exchange, Goldman Sachs, and Marcho Partners, a technology hedge fund. She is also a seasoned actor, who has graced theatre stages in London & Oxford, including an Indian TV series. Her love for meaningful cinema and TV revolves around amplifying authentic voices from marginalized communities. She is a globetrotter, an avid foodie, and enjoys exploring diverse music genres.
Naman is a Senior Marketing Associate at Civic Studios. With over 7+ years in content strategy & marketing, he is a Radio Jockey turned marketer hailing from Nagpur, Maharashtra. Naman has conceptualised and executed campaigns for brands like Red Chillies Entertainment, RSVP Movies, Samsung, etc. He is a Carnatic Classical trained vocalist, movie enthusiast and an out-loud extrovert.
Pulkit is Senior Marketing Associate at Civic Studios. He has 7 years long experience in communications, creative solutions, and Digital marketing in Delhi and Chandigarh. Pulkit has conceptualized and executed several marketing and on-ground social campaigns. He is a Digital content marketing enthusiast, a cinephile, and has a knack for learning new languages.
Akshada Heads Sales & Acquisitions at Civic Studios and comes with a robust background in the content business. In her career spanning over 12 years, she has worked with reputed companies like Walt Disney, Applause, MX Player, Pocket Aces & Viu. Apart from work, she loves traveling, cooking, and reading.
Akshata Samant brings over 13 years of dynamic expertise in the media and entertainment industry as the Head of Creative Development at Civic Studios. With a career marked by influential roles and successful projects, Akshata is instrumental in leading the team of creative producers, ensuring projects are high on storytelling, impact, and commercial viability. She oversees the entire development process from inception to release, aligning each project with the studio’s strategic vision. Akshata cares about producing meaningful and impactful content and having fun while at it. Outside of work, her passion is dance.
Format: Web-series
Genre: Dramedy
Director: Parikshit Joshi
Starring: Apoorva Arora, Sonali Sachdev, Nitesh Pandey, Masood Akhtar, Aakarshan Singh, Prakhar Singh
Project stage: Releasing in Feb 2023
About
The Kashyaps think they are an open-minded family. With their own past as an interfaith couple, the parents would want their kids to marry anyone of their own choice. But when their daughter, Meher, reveals she is dating a cab driver, they face a dilemma. Now is no work really too small? And will they be able to look past their biases to give a chance to Varsha’s relationship? Nuclear Parivaar is a heartwarming, wholesome journey of family bonding, acceptance, and choice.
Key theme
The series starts a conversation on the biases we hold against people basis their class identity and profession, and highlights how young people are looking past such stereotypes and re-defining what really matters while choosing a partner- compatibility, honesty and integrity.
Format: Series/ Feature
Genre: Romance / Drama
Project stage: In development
6th September 2018 marked an important milestone in the history of queer rights in India. The Supreme Court of India unanimously ruled that Section 377 was unconstitutional in criminalising sex between consenting adults.
But who were the people behind this movement- the lawyers, litigants, NGOs, and the citizens? What drove this collective to a historic victory, and what were the factions exposed along the way? This story will unpack the Indian queer movement’s journey to repeal the draconian Section 377, and reflect on where we go from here in the average queer Indian’s fight for acceptance, dignity, and love.
Key theme
This story deep dives into this successful chapter of the India queer movement to glean lessons on the challenges and possibilities in creating social movements, as well as articulate the current state and road ahead for queer rights in India.
Genre: Romance / Drama
Project stage: In development
About
6th September 2018 marked an important milestone in the history of queer rights in India. The Supreme Court of India unanimously ruled that Section 377 was unconstitutional in criminalising sex between consenting adults.
But who were the people behind this movement- the lawyers, litigants, NGOs, and the citizens? What drove this collective to a historic victory, and what were the factions exposed along the way? This story will unpack the Indian queer movement’s journey to repeal the draconian Section 377, and reflect on where we go from here in the average queer Indian’s fight for acceptance, dignity, and love.
Key theme
This story deep dives into this successful chapter of the India queer movement to glean lessons on the challenges and possibilities in creating social movements, as well as articulate the current state and road ahead for queer rights in India.
Minakshi is the Research Head at Civic Studios. Prior to this, she worked as a development sector professional with grassroot organizations as well as INGOs. Minakshi has been a Swedish Institute Fellow (2017-18), and also a Bill & Melinda Gates Fellow (2019-2020) at KIT The Royal Tropical Institute, The Netherlands. When not engrossed in any search or research, she finds her high in solo travels and baking her signature tiramisu.
Azima Shafaque is a Social Media Associate at Pocket Change who can speak Hindi, English, Memes and Movies fluently. From being a commerce graduate to completing Masters in Mass Communication, Azima’s journey has been a rollercoaster ride. She’s always had her unwavering honesty and super lame jokes by her side!
Nikhil Shambharkar is the Marketing Lead at Civic Studios. He has a decade long marketing experience in the Media & Entertainment industry. Having worked with leading entertainment houses in Mumbai, he has conceptualized and executed several marketing campaigns. He is a digital marketing enthusiast and a cinephile who loves to slip in movie dialogues in everyday conversations.
Divay Khurana is a Creative Producer at Pocket Change. He has been associated with The Times of India Group (ENIL) producing web series for Amazon Prime Video, MX Player, Sony LIV, etc. He has been an Executive Producer for branded content and advertisements for Airtel, Samsung, RealMe, PNB, Voltas, etc. An avid traveler, he is often seen taking long weekends off for quick adventure trips.
Jeff Dani, A.K.A Jithin AK Daniel is a Content/Line Producer for Pocket Change. From being a musician to rock/metal promoter & metal concert organizer to an RJ for Radio City Metal Takeover, Jeff got into a serious transition, choosing a career in Direction/Art & then presently in the production department. Through his journey he has been a part of various firms like Lowe Lintas/Endemole Shine/TVF/Yellow Montage/Cinematic Liberty & others. He has a serious addiction issue with WMMM (Work, Music, Motor & Mountains).
Prannoy Nair leads the Social Media team at Pocket Change. He loves social media and has spent all his career perfecting his digital content game with brands like MTV India, SUGAR Cosmetics, and a bunch of other startups. Speaking of game, on a free day, you’ll find him gaming away most of his awake hours, and reading up on new tech in the rest. Never really finishes what he says, but it really
Ramanuj is a Brand Solutions Lead with Civic Studios. He has an experience of a decade in associating with Brands and media agencies, from all over india and providing digital media engagement solutions. He is a mass comm graduate , EX viacom 18, Ex Jagran, Ex BIGO. Expert in Revenue Generation, product and campaign management.
Nishkal Vaidya is the Director of HR & Culture at Civic Studios. With over 18 years of experience in HR, he has worked with Perfect Relations Pvt. Ltd, the largest Public Relations agency in South Asia, and also other organizations such as GEON Studios, Mahuaa Media, NISA Group of Companies, Ultra Media & Entertainment, Adsert Web Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Exchange4media group) and EORTV. He loves to play volleyball, and has represented Maharashtra at the national level.
Ammaar is the Administration and Operations Associate at Civic Studios, with over 7 years of experience in the events & entertainment industry. He started his career with the Navi Mumbai International Film Festival, covering a range such as music festivals, weddings, corporate events, etc. He has also worked as a freelance production assistant in the film & television industry & was part of projects like Social Currency, Unacademy Unwind with MTV, and Ted Talks India Nayi Baat. In his free time, he loves reading shaayari.
Sharmila is the Creative & Business Lead at Civic Studios, and has over 20 years of work experience as a creative media professional. Her previous tenure at top companies such as Banijay Asia, Marching Ants, Star India and Wizcraft has honed her expertise in content creation, talent curation, producing fiction and non-fiction content, and designing unique business & marketing strategies for them. She divides her time between Mumbai and London. She finds joy in art, traveling to unexplored destinations, and watching movies that no one has watched.
Sashi is part of the Writers’ Room at Civic Studios. He has been working as a writer of short form comedy content for the past 5 years, having worked with brands like TVF, Being Indian and ScoopWhoop on digital. In addition to comedy, he’s a huge cinephile and an aspiring filmmaker; pro-indie, not anti-mainstream. Post work hours, he makes film analysis videos and conducts podcasts with filmmakers.
Jeet is a Creative Producer at Pocket Change. He has been an assistant director, writer, DOP, editor and also a director in various formats of filmmaking such as sketches, ads, corporate films and also a feature film. He believes that film is a medium that gives him the liberty to show the people the world through the keyhole of his choosing. He is also a heavy metal entusiast who growls and loves travelling and adventure sports.
Parikshit is a Director at Pocket Change. He has been around in the Digital industry since 2016 as a Writer, Director and Actor. He has been a collaborator with some mainstream YT channels like TVF, TSP, Filter Copy, RVCJ and Alright and certain OTT platforms. He considers himself to be a Director and has immense love for a variety of cinema ranging from Tees Maar Khan to Before Sunset.
Vipul is a Content Producer at Pocket Change. An engineer turned event manager turned film maker, he has produced a feature film which is streaming on Prime Video. His special talents include making and appreciating puns, finding good Punjabi food in any new city on the planet and waking up fresh in the morning without coffee.
Mitali is a Research Manager at Civic Studios. She is an intersectional qualitative researcher and writer and is interested in exploring politics, science and education. She has been a fellow with Teach for India, where she worked towards creating an inclusive, safe and interdisciplinary classroom. She loves documentaries, dogs, trying to keep her plants alive, and diving.
Kashmira Patil is a Senior Creative Producer and Director from Mumbai with over seven years of experience in long-form and digital storytelling. At Civic Studios, she has led projects like Ye Saali Naukri (MXPlayer), Family Aaj Kal (SonyLiv Original), and the award-winning Hum Log campaign with Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies – all designed to spark conversations around social change. Her work spans directing/producing series, documentaries, sketches, ads, branded campaigns, and music videos. She has always been driven by a firm belief in the power of storytelling to impact people and communities in meaningful ways.
Jayesh is the Senior Accounts Executive for Civic Studios. He is a seasoned manager of Finance & Accounts in the Media and Entertainment Industry, who has previously worked with Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films as their Accounts Manager, handling various F&A works. He holds vast experience in managing books of accounts, finance, taxation and allied compliances. He is passionate about health & fitness.
Somnath Karmakar is a writer with Pocket Change. He has formerly worked with TVF as a content creator and actor, where he led properties like Action Kumar Vlogs. He is a standup comedian who has performed in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, and has been a dubbing artist for Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, etc.
Siddhartha is a content producer at Pocket Change. He has worked as a line producer for channels like Being Indian, Blush, VIVA and Awesome Sauce. He has also worked in films, advertising and television in the past to groom his career in filmmaking. In short, he is just a regular guy living a filmy life.
Nikhil is a video editor at Pocket Change. He loves Adobe softwares, and spending time on them all day all night. He is a fan of Hindi, English, Korean & Japanese cinema & web series. He is passionate about helping people. You can also check out his Instagram page @NikhilismOfficial!
nikhil.sidhwani@civicstudios.com
Reyansh is a Social and Production Executive at Pocket Change. His sentences are carefully constructed with movie and meme references. Writing comedy, enjoying cinema and getting people to watch The Office are the three things he is passionate about.
Farzeen is an actor and social media content creator at Pocket Change. She loves consuming content online, and telling engaging stories. She has worked with Times Internet and Colors, Viacom 18 and produced shows like Sasural Simar Ka and Naagin in the past, a dark past she wants to forget. She has watched a tonne of movies and shows, but won’t remember anything in case you want to have a nuanced discussion.
Vishnu is a creative producer at Pocket Change. He has worked as a creative producer for channels like BLUSH, Being Indian, 101 India and Epic TV Channel in the past. He is passionate about telling compelling stories.
Sachin is part of our writer’s room at Pocket Change. He is also a singer and a self proclaimed meme addict. He believes death note is the best thriller ever made, likes cats and snacks on milk powder.
Varun does content research at Pocket Change and produces social media content for Civic Studios. He loves cinema and his student- documentary film ‘Udaan’ got shortlisted at two film festivals. Outside of work, he spends time making music, playing basketball, and creating meaningful content.
Kaviraj is the Channel Head of Pocket Change, and looks after its end to end content planning from inception to execution. He comes with extensive experience, having led the content creation for various platforms such as TVF, Great Indian Laughter Challenge and Being Indian.
Ethan Zuckerman is director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, and an Associate Professor of the Practice at the MIT Media Lab. His research focuses on the use of media as a tool for social change, the role of technology in international development, and the use of new media technologies by activists.
Greg assists with research around the intersection of law, civics, and media. He is currently a practicing lawyer & law student in Mumbai, and has ten years of work experience between the social sector and sports broadcast management industry.
Samyuktha has a background in water management, sanitation, social policy and gender. At Civic Studios she conducts research on civic participation theory and practices in India. She also hosts a podcast called In The Field that looks at development issue in India.
Niranj is a Music Producer at Pocket Change. He is an Indian musician, playback singer, director and actor. He is the lead vocalist of the Indian rock bands Motherjane and Nemesis. He is also the lead vocalist and songwriter of a progressive rock band called Blank planet. Apart from producing music, he’s an automobile enthusiast, who loves to travel places on his bike, loves food and always loves to experiment with new things in life.
Anushka Shah is the Founder & CEO of Civic Studios, a Mumbai and London based media production company that creates entertainment for social change, incubated at the MIT Media Lab, USA. Prior to this she worked at MIT as a researcher on open-source Large Language Model tools and with non-profit organizations involved with low-income communities, at-risk young adults, and undertrial prisoners in India. Anushka has published in and spoken for various news outlets such as the Washington Post, NPR, The Wire, and The Huffington Post. Her education background spans Applied Quantitative Research from New York University, and Government & Economics from London School of Economics. Anushka serves as a producer on a range of socially-driven films and series in India and globally. She divides her time between Mumbai and London.
Roohi is the Director of Strategy and Operations at Civic Studios. Her previous experience has been in content management, qualitative research, and PR across the development and corporate sectors. She has designed content-based interventions and digital campaigns that
drive conversations on issues like gender, sexuality, labour rights, and corporate inclusion. She is passionate about creating content that drives social impact at scale. In her free time, she is a Kathak student, and enjoys spending time with dogs and nature.
