WIF India is led by Guneet Monga Kapoor and is supported by WIF LA, a globally recognized organization. We acknowledge that achieving gender equity in media is a challenging and long-term effort, but we are fully committed to closing the gender gap one step at a time.
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An Academy Award-winning producer, Guneet Monga is one of the most influential figures in the Indian film industry. With a diverse portfolio of successful films, Guneet’s work has not only redefined Indian cinema but also championed women’s voices in the industry. As the driving force behind the vision of The Collective Database Program, Guneet brings her unparalleled experience and passion for gender equality, making her an indispensable leader in pushing this initiative forward.
Rabia brings a deep commitment to supporting women in the media industry, leading the development and execution of The Collective Database Program. With 15 years of experience in program management and gender advocacy, Rabia plays a pivotal role in overseeing partnerships, strategic planning, and industry engagement, ensuring that the program bridges the gap between talent and opportunity for women in the industry.
Pooja Gupte, with her extensive experience in film and media, serves as the Director of Communication and Partnership. With a background in cinematography and a wide network within the industry, she leads the outreach efforts, building relationships with key stakeholders and promoting the database across the media landscape. Her role ensures that the platform continues to grow and engage with the right partners.
Diya provides crucial support in coordinating all aspects of The Collective Database Program. Her excellent organizational skills help maintain timelines and streamline communication between the team and external partners. Diya’s role ensures that the program’s operations run smoothly and that all team efforts are aligned with the program’s goals.
Anupama Chopra is a film critic, national award-winning book author and journalist. She is the editor of The Hollywood Reporter India, founder of Film Companion Studios and chairperson of the Film Critics Guild. She has covered cinema since 1993 in multiple mediums – print, television and digital. She has worked with India Today, NDTV 2/7, Star World. She has also written about cinema for various international publications including The New York Times and Sight and Sound. Anupama has authored several books, including King of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema, which was featured on the Editor’s Choice list of the New York Times Sunday book review and translated into German, Indonesian and Polish. Anupama received an M.A. in journalism from Northwestern University.
“Siddharth Roy Kapur is an eminent film producer and media professional, and Founder andManaging Director of one of India’s premier production houses, Roy Kapur Films. He is the former Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company India and former President of the Producers Guild of India for an unprecedented six consecutive terms. He has consistently featured on Variety’s definitive list of the most influential people in global entertainment and is a member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) that confers the Oscar awards. Siddharth currently serves as Co-Chair of the CII Media and Entertainment Committee.
Siddharth has produced some of Indian cinema’s biggest blockbusters, including Dangal andChennai Express, as well as pathbreaking films such as Barfi, Kai Po Che and Haider. Hisproduction Last Film Show is one of only four Indian films to be shortlisted for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. His productions have won numerous National Awards and Filmfare awards, and have been featured at the top film festivals in the world, including Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Toronto. His recent productions include the epic war film Pippa, the comedy-drama Tumse Na Ho Payega, the popular crime thriller series Aranyak and the acclaimed historical drama series Rocket Boys.Among his upcoming projects are the action-thriller film Deva starring Shahid Kapoor, and Matka King, a series for Amazon Prime Video, as well as a series adaptation of William Dalrymple’s international bestseller The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company.”
Gauri Shinde is an acclaimed writer, director and producer. Also a self- confessed Francophile. She made her mark in the film industry with her feature film debut, ‘English Vinglish’, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 2012 and was released worldwide to stellar reviews and audience response. It is rated among the Top films of the decade and is considered as one of the best women-oriented films in India. It marked the comeback of the late superstar Sridevi. Besides winning a slew of awards, including awards on gender sensitivity and the WIFTs international foundation award, Gauri Shinde also got featured in the London based Financial Times’ 2012 list of 25 Indians To Watch Out For; She started her career as an advertising copywriter, then a film producer at Lowe Lintas, After which she ventured into independent filmmaking, directing short films,over a hundred iconic commercials for renowned brands and winning an Advertising Cannes along the way. Gauri’s strengths lie in her narrative skills, creating strong women characters, the ability to elicit candid performances and a belief in a simple and elegant visual style, evident even in her debut short film, ‘Oh Man!’ that premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. Following the global success of ‘English Vinglish’ Gauri wrote, directed, and co-produced ‘Dear Zindagi’ One of the first ever movies in India to deal with therapy. It had one of India’s leading actors, Shahrukh Khan play the then unconventional role of a therapist alongside India’s brightest young star, Alia Bhatt. The film received great accolades in her home country and was acclaimed by the international press including the New York Times.Gauri continues to direct commercials, with her third feature film set to start production.
An Academy Award-winning producer, Guneet Monga is one of the most influential figures in the Indian film industry. With a diverse portfolio of successful films, Guneet’s work has not only redefined Indian cinema but also championed women’s voices in the industry. As the driving force behind the vision of The Collective Database Program, Guneet brings her unparalleled experience and passion for gender equality, making her an indispensable leader in pushing this initiative forward.
“Kanika Dhillon is a critically acclaimed author, screenwriter and producer who creates and curates engaging stories for the visual medium in the Hindi Film Industry. She is known for her distinct voice with female driven narratives, in iconic films such as Mannmarziyaan, Kedarnath, Guilty and Judgementall Hai Kya. Kanika has created India’s first original Hindi pulp franchise with the immensely successful films Haseen Dillruba and its sequel Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba.
Having been a torchbearer for raw and rooted women in cinema via the written word for years, in 2024, she turned producer by launching her production house Kathha Pictures. It’s maiden film, the Netflix original ‘Do Patti’ – written and produced by Kanika, went on to become the most watched streaming original of the year, making it into the top 10 of the prestigious Variety list.
In her journey from author, to screenwriter, to producer, Kanika Dhillon has paved the way for more female storytellers to have their voices heard, and her future endeavours with Kathha Pictures aim to empower the place of women in mainstream Indian cinema.
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