Priyanka Chopra Jonas and V Join Andrew Scott on Oscar-Qualified Short We Were Here
Actor and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Tony Award-winning playwright V, formerly known as Eve Ensler, have joined British actor Andrew Scott as executive producers of Pranav Bhasin's Oscar-qualified Indian short film We Were Here, according to reports by Variety and News18 on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Their involvement was reported as the independent mockumentary prepared an awards campaign leading into the 2027 Oscars season. Acquired by The New Yorker for exclusive distribution on the magazine's digital and YouTube platforms, the narrative follows three small-town Indian retirees who launch an eccentric protest against technological displacement by disguising themselves as household appliances. Their grassroots campaign faces internal family tension when the adult child of one retiree accepts employment at an artificial intelligence corporation.
Star Executive Producers and Narrative Premise
Prior to securing celebrity executive backing, the independent short received festival screenings and awards, screening at more than 80 international festivals and collecting over 20 competitive awards. The project debuted at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, where it secured the Canal+ Prize, before capturing both the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short and the Redbreast Unhidden Award at SXSW. Crucially, the film attained official Academy Award qualification after winning Best Live-Action Short Under 15 Minutes alongside Best Comedy Short at the prestigious Palm Springs International ShortFest.
We Were Here won The Ellen Award, according to Aspen Film.
International Festival Success and Oscar Qualification
Written and directed by Bhasin, the narrative stars Satish Kashyap, Devendra Dodke, and Arindol Bagchi as the eccentric elderly trio, with supporting performances delivered by Shubham Kujur, Kalpana Gagdekar, and Yash Gonsai. Gonsai produced the short under his Sunshine Pictures banner alongside Dheer Momaya and Dar Gai, with Aarti Lohia and SPLF Media presenting the production. Chopra Jonas praised the film's witty and timely examination of human resilience against artificial intelligence, collaborating with an extensive executive producing coalition that includes Anjula Acharia, Pan Nalin, and Film Companion Studios.
Creative Ensemble and Production Partnerships
Mumbai-born filmmaker Pranav Bhasin began filmmaking at a young age, directing independent short films by age 13 and writing his first digital streaming series by 17. His prior credits include Wolf of Chawl Street, which earned the Silver Dimensions trophy at the Mumbai film festival, alongside acclaimed short films featured as Vimeo Staff Picks. An alumnus of Vanishing Angle's Feature Lab and the Zurich Film Festival Academy, Bhasin's creative team includes producer Yash Gonsai, who previously executive produced Pan Nalin's Oscar-shortlisted drama Last Film Show and collaborated with Dharma Productions on Neeraj Ghaywan's Cannes-premiered title Homebound.