Priyanka Chopra Jonas has lent her name to one of this year’s Indian short-film contenders. She has joined “We Were Here,” directed by Pranav Bhasin, as an executive producer as the film gears up for its Academy Awards campaign, PTI reported on October 30. The announcement was made in a press release. theprint
Priyanka described the film as a fresh, witty take on a very timely subject. She said she jumped at the chance to join, and wants to amplify the team so their original vision gets the attention it deserves.
A Wider Producer Team
Actor Andrew Scott and Tony Award-winning playwright and activist V (formerly Eve Ensler) have also joined as executive producers. The film is produced by Yash Gonsai, Dheer Momaya and Dar Gai, and presented by SPLF Media and Aarti Lohia. theprinttheprint
The Story
“We Were Here” follows three retired men in a small Indian town who believe machines are taking over human jobs and protest by pretending to be household appliances. According to the source text, the plot turns when one of their children takes a job at an artificial intelligence company. Bhasin said the film began as a small, silly idea about three uncles trying to stop AI, and that he came to love their friendships and stubborn resilience. varthabharati
The Festival Run
The film has screened at more than 80 festivals and won over 20 awards. Its wins include the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short and the Redbreast Unhidden Award at SXSW, plus Best Live-Action Short Under 15 Minutes and Best Comedy Short at Palm Springs ShortFest. It also took the Canal Plus Prize at Clermont-Ferrand, where it had its world premiere. According to the source text, the Palm Springs awards qualified it for the Oscars. I could not confirm the SXSW and Clermont-Ferrand details in the reports found, so verify them before publishing. Hollywood Reporter India notes the film is set to premiere online on The New Yorker’s YouTube channel.
What “Oscar-Qualified” Means
A qualifying festival win makes a short film eligible to be considered by the Academy’s voters. It does not mean a shortlist spot or a nomination. That comes later, after the Academy’s voting rounds, and headlines should not suggest otherwise.
Priyanka’s Track Record
Chopra Jonas has backed award-circuit projects before. She was executive producer on the Oscar-nominated documentary “To Kill a Tiger” and on the short film “Anuja,” which was shortlisted for the 2025 Academy Awards. A campaign attracts attention partly through such names, because they help a small film reach voters and press.
Why It Matters
An Indian short with an AI-and-jobs theme has a topical hook, and having global stars on board improves its chances of being seen. The film also arrives as India sends “Gondhal” as its feature entry, so the country has another Oscar story this season.
What Comes Next
The campaign will run through the Academy’s selection stages, with a shortlist announced later. Bolly Orbit will update this report as developments emerge.
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