Hindi
Puja Gupta to feature opposite Abhay Deol in ‘SNAFU’
MUMBAI: After a mega search for the leading lady opposite Abhay Deol in SNAFU, the makers have zeroed in on Puja Gupta. More than 50 fresh faces were auditioned over 20 days, pushing the shoot by a month. Every last member in the unit used their contacts and connections to contribute to the hunt. The director, Sethu Sriram really liked Puja for the role but had two more names in mind. He discussed the situation with Abhay and in a joint call Puja Gupta got the highest votes.
Puja essays the role of Aaniya who shares center stage with Abhay, closing business deals for him. She is an ambitious corporate highflyer who hails from a small town and moved to the city of dreams to pursue her career. After winning the Miss India crown in 2007, Puja made her debut in Bollywood with F.A.L. T.U helmed by Remo D’Souza and most recently she was seen in the zom com Go Goa Gone.
Director, Sethu Sriram said, “It’s a relief that the hunt is over. This role is very critical to the storyline and the girl had to be much more than singing, dancing and looking good. After a lot of deliberations we have decided upon Puja. Aaniya is an ambitious small town girl so we needed the vulnerability of a small towner along with high glam quotient who would be a head turner. I have auditioned a lot of promising fresh faces and a few upcoming names, some of them were brilliant but Puja fits the bill naturally. With all humility, I want to thank Abhay who helped me in streamlining the process.”
The shoot begins on 12 July and with no time left the crew is moving at a rocket speed, especially to put Puja’s fashion forward costumes together.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
