'Been part of the vision board': Sayani Gupta opens up about making her Hollywood debut with Arya

Sayani Gupta

A year of firsts is probably how Sayani Gupta will remember 2026. Earlier this year, the actor tried her hand at direction with Aasmani. Now, she is making her Hollywood debut with the US production, Arya. Directed by debutant filmmaker Neil Tuli, Arya stars Gupta as a piano teacher who moves to the US.

Neil Tuli

Arya is currently being filmed in Duluth, Minnesota. Elaborating on the coming-of-age drama, a source said, "As Arya takes up an assignment in Minnesota, she hopes that the step will help her career back home and enable her to rescue a struggling band programme. But as she clashes with her new environment, she is forced to confront her insecurities."

For Gupta, Hollywood was an inevitable step. "This had to happen. It's been part of the vision board for a long time. I'm grateful to have such a beautiful script and a brilliant character as my first," she told mid-day. From Margarita with a Straw (2015) to Article 15 (2019) and Four More Shots Please, she has chosen her roles with care. "I look for authenticity and the maker's intent. What shines through is the storytelling."

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Sayani Gupta made her directorial debut with ‘Aasmani', a short film starring Revathy, which explores ageing and independence