Sayani Gupta Makes Directorial Debut with Aasmani at WorldFest-Houston

Sayani Gupta is making her mark as a director with her debut film Aasmani, which will premiere at the prestigious WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. The film, featuring Revathy, is also set to compete for the Remy Awards and will be showcased at the Indie Meme Film Festival in Austin. With a rich background in acclaimed films and a vision to foster collaboration in filmmaking, Gupta is expanding her horizons beyond acting. Read on to learn more about her journey and upcoming projects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 15, 2026, 06:48 IST

Sayani Gupta's Directorial Journey Begins

Sayani Gupta is embarking on an exciting new venture as she makes her directorial debut with the film Aasmani, which is set to kick off its festival journey at the 59th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, taking place from April 24 to May 3.

This short film, featuring Revathy in the lead role, has been chosen as the closing entry in the PG Magic Shorts category.

WorldFest-Houston has a reputation for showcasing emerging global filmmakers, having previously highlighted the early works of renowned directors like Ang Lee, George Lucas, David Lynch, Robert Rodriguez, and Spike Lee, with Lynch notably starting his career at this festival. Aasmani is also competing for the esteemed Remy Awards at the festival.

Gupta has taken on multiple roles as the writer, director, and producer of the film, which also stars Daria Bedi and Abhay Kaul in significant roles.

Following its premiere at WorldFest, Aasmani will be showcased on April 26 at the 11th Indie Meme Film Festival in Austin, Texas, where it has received nominations in two categories.

Having previously participated in various international film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, and Busan International Film Festival, Sayani is presenting Aasmani under her production company, Sayani Gupta Movies (SGM). The film is co-produced by Nikkhi Advani for the Sumitra Gupta Foundation for Arts (SGFA), along with Dia Mirza and Ananya Rane from One India Stories (OIS).

Gupta expressed her motivation for producing films, stating, “I have always wanted to create a community of like-minded individuals to foster a collaborative and supportive environment.” With a career spanning 14 years, she has been involved in numerous acclaimed films and streaming projects.

A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Sayani's filmography includes notable titles such as Margarita with a Straw, Jolly LLB 2, and Article 15, as well as the popular Prime Video series Four More Shots Please!, which wrapped up last year.

Currently, she is working on two additional projects through international collaborations, further establishing her presence as a filmmaker beyond her acting career.