There is immense talent in UP for Bollywood to tap into: Celebs at a film event in Lucknow

With the sole purpose of strengthening the potential of Uttar Pradesh as an emerging destination for film making, an event was organised recently in the city in which famous

Bollywood

personalities participated and talked about how this can be made possible. Titled, Lucknow Film Forum (LLF), the event had screening of short films, engaging dialogues and thought-provoking panel discussions on selective verticals of the art of film making with actress and producer Chitrangada Singh, actress Anupriya Goenka, casting director Mukesh Chhabra, filmmaker and writer

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

, Gautam Talwar, Aparna Acharekar and bureaucrat and actor Abhishek Singh in attendance.

Renuka Tandon, Chitrangada Singh and

Rita Bahuguna

Joshi (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)
Prof Rita Bahuguna Joshi, a Member of Parliament, being the Chief Guest of the event, inaugurated the LFF while OP Singh, DGP, Uttar Pradesh was present too as the Guest of Honour. In her inaugural address Prof Rita Bahuguna Joshi, said, "It fills me with joy and immense pleasure to be standing in front of you at the Lucknow Film Forum. Events like these will help youngsters find it easier to tap career opportunities in the film industry and will also help in generating employment opportunities."
The panel discussion began with the 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' filmmaker and writer Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, who shared her thoughts on why stories of small towns are a hit in films these days. "There is immense talent here in UP which is waiting to be tapped by Bollywood. And talent is not just in acting, it’s in every field. This will give youth a platform to reach Bollywood easily as there is an abundance of talent in the state. Such events also helps us meet deserving talent," said Tiwari. The second session started with the Desi Boys fame actress Chitrangada Singh, who discussed about her struggle in the initial stages of her career in Bollywood and how being real to the character on the set gave her career the much needed boost. In the third session there were actress Anupriya Goenka and Abhishek Singh, a bureaucrat and actor, and casting director Mukesh Chhabra who talked about opportunities and potential for the young aspiring actors and writers in Uttar Pradesh.

Abhishek Singh and Mukesh Chhabra (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)
"Our attempt is to cater to the needs of the youth of Uttar Pradesh who are seeking an opportunity to make their career in Bollywood," said Gaurav Dwivedi, the co-director of the forum, while Renuka Tandon, the director, said that there’s a lot more planned by the forum to reach out to more aspirants.
Chitrangda, who was asked several questions by the youngsters in attendance, said, "It was wonderful interacting with these young and talented folks of Lucknow. The audience here is superb. Such events will surely bring forth deserving talent into the field."
Meanwhile, Padmaawat actress, Anupriya had a piece of advice for the youngsters, "You have to work on your craft and be real to it as there’s no substitute for hard work. If you work hard then there is a lot to do."

Gaurav Dwivedi (inset) and Anupriya Goenka (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)
Talking about the immense talent in the state for Bollywood to tap into, casting director turned filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra, said, "If you are deserving and have the potential, then you don’t need to have a well built physique, and to look good. The only thing you have to be working on is your craft. The more you work, the more you learn, rest of the things will be managed by the producers."
— Lakshya Nigam