Priyanka Chopra Jonas has added her name to an Indian short film that is already turning festival buzz into an Academy Awards push. She has joined We Were Here, written and directed by Pranav Bhasin, as an executive producer, alongside actor Andrew Scott and playwright-activist V.
The short goes into its Oscars campaign with a strong calling card: more than 20 international awards and screenings at over 80 festivals.
A timely small-town story
The film follows three retired men in a small Indian town who are convinced that machines are taking over human jobs. Their protest is unusual: they begin pretending to be household appliances. The situation takes a turn when one of their children joins an artificial intelligence company.
That premise gives the comedy a clear entry point into conversations about technology, employment and the fear of becoming obsolete.
How a short film becomes Oscar-qualified
We Were Here won Best Live-Action Short Film Under 15 Minutes and Best Comedy Short at Palm Springs International ShortFest. That win made the project eligible for Academy Award consideration. The film has also picked up the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short and the Redbreast Unhidden Award at South by Southwest, and the Canal Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
For a short film, earning an Oscar-qualifying festival win is often the first major step toward the Academy Awards. The next is staying visible during the long awards season—and that is where a well-known executive producer can help.
By the numbers
- 20+ international awards won
- 80+ festivals where the film has screened
- 2 Palm Springs awards that secured Oscar eligibility
- 1 high-profile premiere coming on The New Yorker’s YouTube channels
The Priyanka effect
Chopra Jonas said in a statement that the film offers “a refreshing, witty take” on a timely subject. She added that she joined “to amplify this creative team” and help their vision get “the spotlight it deserves.”
Director Pranav Bhasin called the support from established names “surreal” as the film enters awards season.
Executive producer titles can mean different things, but in a crowded short-film race, a recognizable name can help a project reach festival programmers, voters and general audiences. With The New Yorker set to premiere the short on its YouTube channels, We Were Here is positioned to convert its festival run into a wider moment.
For celebrity watchers, the story is simple: Priyanka Chopra Jonas is backing a small-scale project with a big-stage ambition—and the next few months of awards campaigning will show whether the spotlight follows.
Source: Hindustan Times
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