Ram Madhvani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Aditya Sarpotdar on Cinematic Universes | THR Spotlight Sessions

Suchin Mehrotra hosted an exclusive THR Spotlight panel for JioHotstar, bringing together acclaimed filmmakers Ram Madhvani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Aditya Sarpotdar to discuss the art of building homegrown fantasy universes and massive franchises in Indian cinema. The conversation explored world-building techniques, with Ram sharing insights from his revolutionary System 360 filmmaking method used in Neerja and Aarya, while Shriya reflected on her experiences portraying characters in heightened realities like Mirzapur, Taaza Khabar, and Mandala Murders. Aditya opened up about creating the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe with Munjya and the upcoming vampire film Thama, discussing how to root mythological creatures in Indian folklore.

The panel delved into practical challenges of VFX execution, the role of actor conviction in selling fantastical worlds, and the impact of AI on creative storytelling. Ram revealed his pioneering work in virtual reality with plans for mythological short films, while Aditya shared how budget constraints shape creative decisions in CGI-heavy productions. Shriya emphasized the importance of surrendering to directorial vision when performing against green screens, highlighting the collaborative trust required between actors and filmmakers. The discussion touched on everything from Tim Burton's influence to the challenges of competing with global content standards, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the creative processes behind India's most ambitious cinematic universes.