Gurinder Chadha on Diaspora and 'Christmas Karma' — and the Film Culture That Soho House Is Building in Mumbai

On 1 December, Soho House Mumbai hosted filmmaker Gurinder Chadha in conversation with Anushka Shah, founder of Civic Studios, for an evening that traced the emotional and cultural threads running through Chadha’s body of work. Speaking to a packed room, the Bend It Like Beckham director discussed Christmas Karma, her playful ode to A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. She reflected on how diasporic memory, identity, and the feeling of “carrying your parents with you” continue to shape her filmmaking. Chadha also revealed that her film’s contemporary Scrooge is inspired by a close friend from Uganda who arrived in the UK as a refugee — a reminder, she noted, of the lived histories that underlie her stories.

From there, the conversation broadened into the ways Civic Studios is supporting the film’s release in India, and how Chadha and Shah remain deeply connected to the creative circuits linking London and Mumbai.

What followed — as with so many gatherings at the club — was a natural extension of Soho House Mumbai’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant, collaborative film culture for its members.

At Soho House Mumbai, the members-only film programme is built on breadth, access, and thoughtful curation. Each month, members can explore around 30 distinctive titles across genres and formats — from the latest theatrical releases to world cinema, regional-language gems, documentaries, shorts, and festival favourites. Sundays bring family-friendly screenings, widening the circle of cinephiles who feel at home there.

A cornerstone of the programming is the monthly Film Club, which champions independent Indian cinema. Since launching in 2021, Film Club has brought pan-Indian indies to the fore, each screening followed by in-depth Q&As with filmmakers and crew — often flown in from across the country. Over the years, the club has featured titles such as Ghodey Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Ja Riya Hoon by Anamika Haksar, All That Breathes by Shaunak Sen, Pedro by Natesh Hegde (curated by Smriti Kiran for her Lightbox series), Reason by Anand Patwardhan, Pokhar Ke Dunnu Paar by Parth Saurabh, Ullozhukku by Christo Tomy, and And, Towards Happy Alleys by Shrimoyee Singh.

Located in the heart of Juhu, the House is naturally entwined with Bollywood’s creative community. Intimate conversations and surprise visits from industry names are woven into the fabric of the programme: Zoya Akhtar (Luck By Chance), Shakun Batra and the cast of Gehraiyaan, Taapsee Pannu and Anubhav Sinha (for a preview of Thappad in collaboration with member Ankur Pathak’s AK Talkies), and Vishal Bhardwaj (Haider) have all been part of the calendar. For the club’s fifth anniversary, a special series — Five Decades of Films in Mumbai — culminated in a conversation with Anurag Kashyap and Kiran Rao, moderated by Rajeev Masand.

As a private members’ club, the screening room is free from the censorship restrictions that govern public cinemas, opening the door for exclusive access to unreleased and pre-release titles. Recent previews this year have included Babygirl, A Nice Indian Boy, One Battle After Another and Frankenstein, along with past standouts such as The Shameless, Tees, Society of the Snow, The Taste of Things, Beau Is Afraid, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Maestro, Monster, Last Film Show, and Parasite.

Television also plays a significant role in the programme. Members enjoy early access to series premieres, often followed by conversations with the creators. Highlights include Tabbar (SonyLIV), Sacred Games Season 2, Guns & Gulaabs, Scoop (Netflix), and Modern Love Mumbai (Amazon Prime).

Collaboration remains central to the spirit of the House. Member-led film properties frequently come to life through the programming: ALP — a celebration of short-form video spanning ads, shorts, music videos, and new media — was conceptualised by member Reema Maya and developed with the Soho House team. During Pride Month, Pride x Film Weekend, curated with Gaysi founder Sakshi Juneja, honours queer cinema. Documentary programming is strengthened through a partnership with Kriti Film Club. Additionally, the monthly “Member’s Pick” series invites a member to select and introduce a film that continues to inspire them.

All of this unfolds within a state-of-the-art screening room that rivals the best multiplexes in Mumbai. It’s a space designed for discovery especially for independent films that deserve the spotlight, and for a community that values thoughtful curation and shared experience.

At Soho House Mumbai, film is not just programming. It’s a culture built by its members.