Podcast · Film & TV

OFFSCRIPT with Ritika Agrawal

by Ritika Agrawal · English · Film & TV

Your front row seat to the future of global entertainment! Episodes every other Monday at 11:00 AM CT

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 52 min
Latest: 5 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026 · 37 min

Building the Infrastructure: Rita on Creating the First South Asian Oscar-Qualifying Film Festival in America

She immigrated to the United States just after 9/11, paid herself $500 a month to run a nonprofit out of a broom closet, and spent 24 years building what no one else had built. Rita Meher joins Ritika Agrawal to talk about what it actually takes to create the infrastructure behind South Asian cinema in North America: from getting Netflix to fund your filmmakers to acquiring a 105-year-old Seattle theater with a grant application she wrote over a Labor Day weekend. Rita Meher is the founder and Executive Director of Tasveer, the longest-running South Asian film festival in North America and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

21 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
The Underdog Story Behind the Underdog Story: Shubhangi Shekhar on Four Years of Delusional Confidence and South Asian Basketball
She graduated into a pandemic, left her job, moved to LA, and spent four years throwing her own savings at a documentary about a South Asian basketball team no one knew existed, before a single distributor said yes. Shubhangi Shekhar joins Ritika Agrawal to talk about what it actually costs to bet on yourself before anyone else will, and why the story she needed to tell wasn't a sports story at all. Her documentary *Hoop Like This* is now making the festival rounds after four years in the making. Shubhangi explains: ■Why "delusional confidence" isn't the same as self-belief — and which one…
7 Sep 2026 · 52 min
How To Get Cast In India: Shivam Gupta on Authenticity, Bombay, and Breaking In
He left home at 13 with a letter under his mother's pillow and a one-way conviction toward cinema. From theater rounds in Delhi to casting "Big Girls Don't Cry" and producing Venice-recognized films, Shivam Gupta has quietly become one of Bollywood's most trusted casting directors. Shivam joins Ritika Agrawal to break down the real state of casting in 2026, why OTT budget cuts are actually creating more opportunity for new actors, and the one thing he says separates the actors who get cast from the ones who don't.Credits include *Big Girls Don't Cry*, *Sacred Games 2*, *Trapped*, *Daddy*,…
25 Aug 2026 · 57 min
From Rhode to Hollywood: Chandni Sharma Modi on Culture, Community, and Building Rooms That Matter
After Heading Culture at Rhode. Chandni Sharma Modi stepped into one of Hollywood's most important behind-the-scenes institutions. VP & Strategic Development at CAPE and co-founder of Mela Collective, Chandni joins Ritika Agrawal to unpack what it actually takes to move the needle on API representation, not from the outside, but from inside the rooms where decisions get made. CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) has been building infrastructure for Asian American storytelling for 35 years, through fellowships, finishing funds, writers programs, and behind-the-scenes…
10 Aug 2026 · 55 min
The Outsider's Playbook: Sayani Gupta on Breaking Into Bollywood With Nothing and Building India's Hello Sunshine
She arrived in Bombay in 2011 with no industry connections, no family in the business, and a film school degree from FTII. Over fifteen years of eight auditions a day, theater stages, and quietly becoming one of the most respected actors working in India, Sayani Gupta has built something rare; a career entirely on her own terms. Sayani joins Ritika Agrawal to talk about what it actually takes to survive the system from the outside, why she's now producing her own films, and the force she's quietly building behind the camera.Sayani is best known for her roles in, Four More Shots Please, Delhi…
27 Jul 2026 · 32 min
The $500 Billion Creator Economy: Aman on Building the Total Package in Hollywood & Bollywood
He started posting YouTube videos at 13, a shy kid doing magic tricks and VFX experiments to escape his own shell. Now Aman has millions of followers across platforms, a massive female fanbase, and Hollywood is watching. Aman joins Ritika Agrawal to go OFFSCRIPT about what it actually costs to chase both the creator world and the film world at the same time, and why having an audience doesn't mean the doors just open. Aman is a Los Angeles-based South Asian-American creator and actor known for his Bollywood romantic content and short-form collaborations across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.…
6 Jul 2026 · 49 min
The Emmy-Winner's Playbook: Apoorva Bakshi on Betting Everything on Delhi Crime and Making Indian Stories Unstoppable
She is the Emmy-winning producer who read a script overnight, canceled all her meetings the next morning, and put her life savings into a show that had never been done before in India. Apoorva Bakshi joins Ritika Agrawal to break down exactly what it took to bring Delhi Crime, one of Netflix's Top 10 non-English shows globally, from an unproven idea to an internationally celebrated series, and to reveal the single creative principle she believes separates stories that travel from stories that simply get made. Delhi Crime (Netflix, Seasons 1–3) Emmy Award winner, Best Drama Series; 2.5…
22 Jun 2026 · 45 min
The Independent Filmmaker's Playbook: Venk Potula on Financing Indie Films, Beating Imposter Syndrome, and Building a Legacy Without the Studios
He built a production company from short films shot for a few hundred dollars, broke into Tribeca, and landed an IFC release, all without a single studio connection. Venk Potula joins Ritika Agrawal to talk about what it actually takes to finance, direct, and release an independent film as a South Asian filmmaker in America, and why the community's biggest cultural moment in cinema hasn't happened yet.Venk Potula is a multi-hyphenate actor, director, and producer behind Four Samosas (Tribeca 2022, IFC Films) and the upcoming theatrical release Namaslay (August 2025). His directorial feature…
8 Jun 2026 · 49 min
The Rise of the Global Actor: Ankur Rathee on Making Yourself Bankable in Bollywood & Hollywood
He left a corporate career after Princeton, spent a decade building himself in Bombay, and now works across Bollywood and Hollywood. Ankur Rathee joins Ritika Agrawal to break down what the globalization of entertainment actually looks like from the inside, and what it takes to build a career across two industries. Ankur Rathee is an actor known for Four More Shots Please!, Undekhi, Made in Heaven, Shehzada and Netflix's Single Papa. He stars in the upcoming Best of the Best alongside Hasan Minhaj, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Lilly Singh. In this episode:■ Glocalization: the smartphone leap…
S3 · E11 · 11 Nov 2025 · 55 min
BONUS: 30 Years in Hollywood: From Adam Sandler's Dormmate to Grey's Anatomy & Never Have I Ever | with Anjul Nigam
Before Grey’s Anatomy, True Detective, and Never Have I Ever, Anjul Nigam was a student at NYU during the golden age of indie cinema, chasing auditions and living with Adam Sandler as a dormmate. His journey has been anything but straightforward: a sudden rise in Hollywood, four years of unemployment, rebuilding through theatre, and eventually stepping into producing with his breakout film Growing Up Smith, a passion project that took a decade, played 25 festivals, and even caught the attention of Barack Obama. In this Chai with Champs bonus episode, Anjul reflects on 30+ years of navigating…
S3 · E10 · 4 Nov 2025 · 53 min
How to Make Your First Short Film Without Industry Access | with Renu Razdan
She walked away from corporate stability to become a full-time actor. That’s how Renu Razdan has built her path in indie cinema, acting for years on sets, then producing and starring in A Newlywed Story , proving you don’t need a safety net or traditional industry backing to create meaningful work. In this episode of Chai with Champs , Renu breaks down the real planning behind making your first short film, how to navigate the money conversation when leaving corporate life, and whether indie filmmakers truly need to be in LA, or if thriving creative hubs like Atlanta, Chicago and New York are…
S3 · E9 · 28 Oct 2025 · 54 min
From NYU Film School to Zoya Akhtar's Made in Heaven: Cinematography Across Borders| with Neeraj Jain
What does it take to go from film school at NYU to working with Zoya Akhtar on one of India’s most iconic streaming shows, Made in Heaven? For cinematographer Neeraj Jain, the answer lies in telling stories through light, building trust across borders, and committing to frames that honor complexity and nuance. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Neeraj shares his path from training under masters to becoming a DP who moves fluidly between India and the U.S. He breaks down the real challenges young cinematographers face, the debate between mastering gear vs mastering vision, and how OTT…
S3 · E8 · 21 Oct 2025 · 48 min
From YouTube Virality to Netflix: The Real Blueprint on Financing, Distributing & Greenlighting your Show | with Abi Varghese
Abi Varghese turned an immigrant story into a phenomenon in Kerala and parlayed that momentum into directing for Netflix and Eros Now. He didn’t wait for backing or permission; he built his own audience and carried them with him. That path has become the foundation for his banner, Infamous Coconuts, which is now pushing regional Indian stories onto a global stage. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Abi reveals how indie creators can actually move from YouTube to streaming platforms, the unspoken realities of financing and distribution, and the trade-offs every filmmaker faces when selling…
S3 · E7 · 14 Oct 2025 · 53 min
She Landed "The Big Bang Theory" without Film School. Here's How | with Rachna Khatau
When Rachna Khatau walked onto the set of The Big Bang Theory as Kathleen, she wasn’t backed by film school credentials or industry connections, just persistence, strategy, and the belief that she belonged in the room. In this episode of Chai with Champs, she shares exactly how she broke into one of the most competitive auditions in television, what actors never hear about surviving the waiting game between paychecks, and why she started building her own stages through theater, South Asian Happy Hour, and mentorship. Rachna also takes us inside the post-SAG strike reality: how budgets, and…
S3 · E6 · 7 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
The Road To The Oscars: What It Really Takes To Get Your Film Recognized | with Krushan Naik
Before the films, the festivals, and the Oscar buzz, who was Krushan Naik? In this episode of Chai with Champs, Krushan takes us inside his journey, from arriving in the U.S. with no safety net, to creating Anuja, a short film that became Oscar-qualified for Best Live Action Short Film.We unpack the 3-year strategy that took Anuja to international recognition, the unspoken rules of visibility in Hollywood, and how filmmakers land on the radar of names like Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra. Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram:…
S3 · E5 · 30 Sep 2025 · 50 min
The Woman Behind Ms.Media, Soundvilla & South Asian House on Building a Cultural Legacy | with Monika Varma Samtani
She didn’t just break into rooms , she built them. Monika Varma Samtani went from being one of the first South Asian anchors in American newsrooms to founding Ms. Media, Shop The Films,and curating platforms like South Asian House at SXSW and Soundvilla, where global creators meet opportunity. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Monika reveals the mindset it takes to start over, the courage to choose storytelling in a family of doctors, and the strategies behind curating artists for festivals and cross-cultural platforms. From what makes her stop and say “this person has something special”…
S3 · E4 · 23 Sep 2025 · 55 min
He Cold-DM'd Boman Irani. It Landed Him On The Set of Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju | with Karan Wadhwa
What happens when you bet on yourself and send one bold DM? For Karan Wadhwa, it led straight to working under Rajkumar Hirani on the set of Sanju. That single risk didn’t just open a door, it launched a career that now bridges Bollywood’s biggest productions and the grind of indie filmmaking in LA. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Karan shares the unfiltered truths of navigating both Bollywood and indie cinema, from wearing three hats on an Abhishek Bachchan feature in LA, to the mistakes filmmakers make on the festival circuit, to the realities of building credibility without film…
S3 · E3 · 16 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
From A.R. Rahman to Film Production: How Rianjali & Kunal Build a Creative Empire
Say yes to one opportunity and it could lead you to A.R. Rahman.That’s exactly how Rianjali & Kunal Patel began a journey that transformed their lives, from a single yes, to working with one of the greatest musicians in the world, to building a career that now spans music, law, and film.Today, they run their own production company with films traveling to a dozen international film festivals, proving that you don’t need a blueprint to create your own path. In this episode of Chai with Champs, they reveal how to turn passion into power from negotiating with confidence, protecting ownership,…
S3 · E2 · 8 Sep 2025 · 1 hr
She Went from Accenture to Directing a Netflix Film Backed by Mindy Kaling: with Sujata Day
What happens when a consultant at Accenture trades spreadsheets for screenplays and ends up directing, producing, and starring in her own films?Today on Chai with Champs, we're joined by Sujata Day, a multi-hyphenate creator, star of HBO’s Insecure, and the force behind the critically acclaimed film Definition Please.From navigating Hollywood without connections, to rewriting the narrative for South Asian characters on screen, Sujata shares how she transformed early challenges into creative leverage and why building your own table is sometimes more powerful than asking for a seat.This is a…
S3 · E1 · 1 Sep 2025 · 51 min
Inside Indian Cinema: Are we in a Renaissance or a really loud phase? w/ Sucharita Tyagi | Chai with Champs Podcast
From Delhi’s radio studios to Cannes red carpets, Sucharita Tyagi has built her voice into one of the most fearless in cinema. In this episode of Chai with Champs with Ritika Agrawal, Sucharita shares her journey of carving space as a South Asian woman in film criticism and the cost of being unapologetically bold.We also dive into the bigger picture, what it really takes to stay relevant in Indian cinema today, how global film festivals shape opportunities, and where the industry is headed in an era of OTT platforms and evolving audiences. [00:00] - Intro [00:45] - Who is Sucharita Tyagi?…
S3 · 1 Aug 2025 · 1 min
Chai with Champs Podcast: The Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Trailer
Welcome to the Chai with Champs Podcast; The Center Stage for South Asian Cinema. I am your host, Ritika Agrawal, where I sit down with Oscar-nominated producers, directors, award-winning directors, actors, composers, influential film critics and more who are shaping the future of South Asian Cinema. New episodes drop every Tuesday starting September 1st! Follow us on @chaiwithchamps
3 Dec 2024 · 55 min
From Broadway to Bollywood: Chai with Ankur Rathee
Ankur Rathee is an Indian-American actor and dancer best known for his roles in the Amazon Prime series Four More Shots Please (2019) , Zoya Akhtar 's Made in Heaven (2019) , the Hindi films Thappad (2020) and The Tashkent Files (2019) opposite Naseeruddin Shah , and as a finalist on Dance India Dance (2013). He graduated from Princeton University where he trained under artists like Tony Award winner John Rando , Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman , and Academy Award nominee Christina Lazaridi . He also briefly studied filmmaking at USC School of Cinematic Arts.After moving to New York City,…
15 Oct 2024 · 43 min
Fourth Time's a Charm: Chai with Tanpreet Parmar, Miss Canada 2024
Tanpreet is a passionate mental health advocate, focusing on promoting self-love and acceptance. Her diverse background encompasses modeling, acting, public speaking and hosting, alongside her career as a Human Resources professional. As a speaker and educator with the registered Canadian charity, Stigma Free Mental Health Society, Tanpreet works with youth all over Canada to raise awareness about mental health and combat stigma. Drawing from her own experiences, struggling with perfectionism, body image, anxiety, and depression. Tanpreet sheds light on the harmful effects societal and media…
16 Sep 2024 · 59 min
From Dreams to Reality: Chai with Rianjali
Rianjali is an award winning, NYC born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter/composer with a mission to change South Asian musicians’ perspective in the diaspora. Rianjali was a former domestic violence case-worker until she found her ‘pinch me’ moment when she caught the attention of Oscar award-winning musician A.R. Rahman’s and was asked to work alongside him. Rianjali has collaborated and performed with internationally acclaimed artists like U2 , Bishop Briggs , Shawn Mendes . She has worked with A.R. Rahman as a composer and music supervisor for multiple projects such as the…
19 Aug 2024 · 34 min
From Piano Chords to Brand Awards: Chai with Jenny Huang
️Praised as an “extremely sensitive and inspiring performer who touches souls,” award-winning pianist Jenny Huang has appeared in North America, Europe, and Asia as a featured artist at international music festivals, competitions, music salons, and master classes. Jenny is also an exceptional brand marketer! Her exceptional accomplishments have earned her prestigious honors in the marketing industry, including recognition in Campaign Magazine US’ “Inspiring Women”, Ad Age Rising Stars, multiple Gold Lions in the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, and serving as a judge for esteemed awards…
5 Aug 2024 · 37 min
Medicine by Day, MUSICMAN by Night: Chai with VJDAMUSICMAN
Born and raised in Durham, NC, Vybhav Jagannath donned the alias VJDAMUSICMAN in early 2018. The singer-songwriter began his journey with Young Enough To Know Better , a YouTube exclusive project that allowed him to explore the genres of pop and ballads while trying his hand at songwriting for the very first time. MusicMan ( short for VJDAMUSICMAN) used beats he found off of YouTube and wrote and recorded to them using GarageBand. This fifteen track album was well-received and pushed MusicMan to take himself more seriously and expand his sound. Jagannath worked with his younger brother,…
22 Jul 2024 · 58 min
From Home Runs to Hollywood: Chai with Neha Joy
Neha Joy is a Host and Producer at The Hollywood Reporter, where she reports on the latest in film, television, and pop culture through THR’s daily news videos and conducts interviews with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. She also led production on THR's monthly video series Heat Vision Breakdown. Before joining THR, Neha worked as a television host for MLB, The New York Mets, Sports Illustrated, Billboard, PeopleTV, and was nominated for a New York Emmy Award for her work on SNY. She previously worked as an Associate Producer for Good Morning America. New episodes are every other…
18 Nov 2023 · 24 min
From Tech to Television: Chai with Sangita Patel
In this engaging episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly versatile Sangita Patel, a true testament to the power of determination and following one's passions. Sangita's journey is a fascinating blend of engineering expertise and her rise as a prominent television personality in Canada.Sangita's career took a remarkable turn when she transitioned from her background in engineering to becoming a beloved television personality in the Canadian news landscape. In 2014, Sangita joined ET Canada, where she not only covered breaking entertainment news but also traveled the…
11 Nov 2023 · 29 min
From Perseverance to Paralympic Medalist: Chai with Anna Johannes
In this deeply moving episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Anna Johannes, a true embodiment of resilience, determination, and the relentless pursuit of social justice. Anna's journey is nothing short of extraordinary, as she's dedicated her life to advocating for disability rights and social justice.Her story begins with her being born without her left hand and forearm, a circumstance that ignited her passion for fighting for those facing similar challenges. Her advocacy journey started at a young age, and it has only grown stronger over the years.After an illustrious…
4 Nov 2023 · 38 min
From Bridging Cultures to Breaking Barriers: Chai with Carla Eboli
In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Carla Eboli, a groundbreaker in the advertising industry and a true advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Carla's journey is a remarkable testament to the power of leadership, connection, and fostering the next generation of women leaders.As the EVP, PR & Multicultural - D,E&I Lead at Energy BBDO, an Omnicom Group Agency, Carla holds a pivotal role in shaping the agency's DE&I strategy and initiatives. With over two decades of experience in the communications industry, she is a seasoned expert in public relations,…

About OFFSCRIPT with Ritika Agrawal

Your front row seat to the future of global entertainment! Episodes every other Monday at 11:00 AM CT

OFFSCRIPT with Ritika Agrawal is a English film & tv podcast from Ritika Agrawal. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Ritika Agrawal
Language: English
Category: Film & TV
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 52 min
Latest episode: 5 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1708348300
Rights: Ritika Agrawal

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