Sayani Gupta is set to mark a new phase in her career with her directorial debut Aasmani, which will begin its festival run at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. The 59th edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from April 24 to May 3, 2026.

Aasmani: Directorial debut of Sayani Gupta to premiere at WorldFest-Houston 2026

The short film, headlined by Revathy, has been selected as the closing title in the PG Magic Shorts category. It is also in contention for the festival’s Remy Awards, adding to its presence at the event.

Aasmani is written, directed, and produced by Sayani Gupta and features Daria Bedi and Abhay Kaul in key roles. The film will further expand its festival journey with a screening on April 26 at the Indie Meme Film Festival in Austin, Texas, where it has also received nominations in two categories.

Sayani Gupta has previously been associated with international film festivals through her acting work, including screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, and Busan International Film Festival. With Aasmani, she now extends her involvement into filmmaking.

The project is backed by her banner, Sayani Gupta Movies (SGM), and co-produced by Nikkhi Advani for Sumitra Gupta Foundation for Arts (SGFA), along with Dia Mirza and Ananya Rane under One India Stories (OIS).

Speaking about her motivation to produce, Gupta said, “The reason I have always wanted to produce was so I could build a community of like-minded people and, together, create an enabling, nourishing space for collaboration.”

An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Sayani Gupta has built a 14-year career across films and streaming projects, including Margarita with a Straw, Jolly LLB 2, and Article 15, as well as the series Four More Shots Please!.

She is currently working on two additional projects through international co-productions, indicating a continued focus on expanding her work as a filmmaker alongside her acting career.

Also Read: Sayani Gupta turns director with Aasmani; calls it her ‘17-year-long dream’ ahead of world premiere