Southern Sitara to produce Indo-Australian feature films - Cannes 2025 update

A new Australian finance and production entity to fund development and production of a slate of features between Australia and India was announced at Cannes today

By Jyothi Venkatesh

A new Australian finance and production entity, Southern Sitara, was announced at Cannes today to fund and produce a slate of Australian-Indian feature films.

Founded by investment and strategy duo Roshni Pandey and Jagdish Sidhu—who manage a portfolio across Southeast Asia, London, and Australia—Southern Sitara will co-produce with award-winning production company TEMPLE, based at Disney Studios Australia in Sydney.

Conceived by filmmaker Anupam Sharma (who previously triggered the Australia India Film Fund), Southern Sitara will provide development funding, production investment, gap financing, and cash flow loans for eligible projects. Targeting films with budgets between AUD 5–11 million, it uses a hybrid capital model combining proprietary funds with co-raised capital, offering structured financing and short to mid-term working capital solutions.

Encouraged by the India-Australia co-production treaty and local incentives, the initiative is supported by prominent Indian diaspora figures in Australia. These include Drs Pradnya and Tej Dugal (Maasa, Farewell Amor) via Jhumka Films; London based international media investor Jacqui Miller-Charlton (MBE); Sydney-based investor Dr Chandru Tolani; and angel investor Shallu Kundra—all with prior investment in the Australia-India film space.

Southern Sitara has secured first-look distribution deals with ICON Film for English-language releases and Forum Films for Indian-language titles.

Legal counsel is Janine Pearce of JP Media Law. Communications will be led by Victoria Buchan of The Lantern Group, with Hema Upadhya handling PR in India.

The group has also onboarded a strong lineup of Australian producers and creatives for executive and key creative roles, including Lisa Duff (Last Cab to Darwin), Jannine Barnes (Downriver), Cathy Rodda (Bromley – Light After Dark), Victoria McIntyre Wharfe (The Flood), Ben Ulm (Shark Tank Australia), and First Nations producer Jodie Bell (Doug the Human).

Sidhu will oversee finance and compliance, Pandey will lead strategy and investor relations, and Sharma will serve as the creative face of Southern Sitara.

Speaking from Cannes, Sharma said: “Australia provides unprecedented support to screen professionals. Southern Sitara builds on this to enable authentic cultural storytelling.”

From the Gold Coast, Pandey added: “We’ve been piloting business models to de-risk film investment, and Australia’s treaties and incentives have helped us transform the narrative.”

Sidhu from Singapore said: “Australia’s production incentives and treaties offer a uniquely de-risked path to global film investment, aligning with our focus on compliance and strong ROI.”

The first projects include Anupam Kher’s directorial thriller, shot extensively in Australia, and Shadows, a horror film blending First Nations and Indian mythologies.

Also on the slate is The Indian Cowboy – a story inspired by India’s only country music singer Bobby Cash, who was discovered in Australia.
Southern Sitara will also raise investment funds for a slate including Richard Jameson’s Bidjara Kumari, which has had development investment from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland; FRAMED, which is being developed with assistance from Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and SBS, and Dr Sanjaya Senanayake’s Chilli Chicks and Heart Attacks, written by Victoria McIntyre and developed with assistance from Screen Canberra.

Rahul Kumar Tewary's Udne Ki Aasha Twist: Sachin Turns Into Rooh Baba to Unmask the Jewelry Thief

The hit television show *Udne Ki Aasha*, produced by Rahul Kumar Tewary under Rahul Kumar Tewary Productions in association with Rolling Tales Production, continues to deliver unexpected drama and thrilling plot twists that keep audiences hooked.

In a newly released promo, the storyline takes a spooky turn as Sachin, played by Kanwar Dhillon, adopts the persona of Rooh Baba — a character made famous by Kartik Aaryan in *Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3*. His goal? To uncover the truth behind Sayali’s missing jewelry.

Earlier in the series, it was revealed that Renuka secretly gave Sayali’s jewelry to Tejas, who, instead of using it as collateral, sold it for cash. Suspicious of their actions, Sayali and Sachin come up with an out-of-the-box plan to make the culprits confess. Sachin disguises himself as a ghostbuster-like figure, using theatrics and "black magic" to rattle Renuka and Tejas.

The Star Plus promo showcases a chilling moment where Renuka is terrified after seeing a chair move on its own. Her screams draw the whole family to the scene, just as Sachin makes a dramatic entry dressed as Rooh Baba, intent on exposing the thief. His eerie act shakes up the household, leaving the guilty unnerved.

The promo is captioned: *"Baba Sachin aaye hain chor ko pakadne…Ghar mein mach gaya hai hungama! Kya asli chor hoga be-naqaab?"*

In the recent episodes, Sayali and Sachin discover that the gold jewelry is fake. Despite their concern, they decide to hide the truth from the family to avoid disrupting their grandmother’s birthday celebration. However, the truth begins to surface due to interference from Riya’s mother. Renuka then attempts to frame Sayali for the loss, but the family sides with Sayali. Determined to clear the confusion and expose the truth, Sachin and Sayali focus their suspicions on Renuka and Tejas.

Starring Neha Harsora and Kanwar Dhillon in lead roles, *Udne Ki Aasha* on Star Plus  has consistently performed at the top of the TRP charts. The ensemble cast also includes Sanjay Narvekar, Radhika Vidyasagar, and Puru Chibber, all contributing to the show's ongoing success.

Alia Bhatt flaunts radiant Indian cultural look during her Festival de Cannes Debut

After a well-received debut, Alia Bhatt, Global Brand Ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, graced the red carpet once again at the 78th Festival de Cannes, unveiling yet another stunning look for the closing ceremony.

 

Alia wore a custom Gucci saree with all-over crystal GG Monogram embroidery. The custom Gucci designs draw inspiration from India’s rich heritage and craftsmanship reflecting the actress’ desire to celebrate her cultural roots.

Her radiant makeup look she opted for L’Oréal Paris, beginning with the Infallible 24H Tinted Serum in shade 3-4 Light Medium for a hydrating, soft base. She amplified her eyes with the Voluminous Panorama Waterproof Mascara, delivering dramatic volume, paired with the Infallible Grip Up To 36H Gel Automatic Eye Liner in 001 Intense Black.

To finish, Alia turned to her favourite Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in the shade Worth It 601—a shade she fondly calls ‘Alia shade’. The look was locked in with the Infallible 3 Second Setting Spray, offering a luminous, long-lasting glow.

Adding to the glamour, her hair looked vibrant and glossy thanks to L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Hair Color, perfectly complementing her ensemble.

 

As L’Oréal Paris celebrates its 28th consecutive year at the Festival de Cannes, Alia’s appearance reflects the brand’s empowering theme for the year “Lights, Beauty, Action” — a tribute to cinema, self-worth, and the universal belief that everyone deserves to feel empowered and beautiful.