Sundance-winning producer Neeraj Churi and U.S. filmmaker Daniel Talbott are collaborating on a new feature titled Starvation, set in Mumbai and helmed by Film and Television Institute of India graduates Saurav Mahind and Tejas Shende.
First Collaboration for Churi and Talbott
This marks the inaugural partnership between Churi’s Lotus Visual Productions and Talbott’s Orphan Andy Films. The film follows a pickpocket who survives by taking advantage of the desires of closeted men, until his perspective is dramatically altered when one of his targets returns seeking connection rather than vengeance. Producers have described the film as psychologically grounded, engaging with themes of desire, class, and emotional survival. It has been selected for the Writers’ Ink Screenwriting Lab 2026.
Emerging Talent Behind the Project
Saurav Mahind, the writer-director, gained early recognition when his student short, Upon Starvation, won best short film at the international competition of the Sunny Bunny International Queer Film Festival. Mahind is also part of the Indian government’s Creative Minds of Tomorrow initiative at the International Film Festival of India. Tejas Shende, also FTII-trained, was one of six South Asian fellows at the QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab (2024–25), where he developed another feature under the mentorship of filmmaker Saim Sadiq. Shende has participated in Berlinale’s European Film Market and contributed to award-winning documentary projects.
Producers' Perspectives
Churi, known for producing Cactus Pears, which won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, is enthusiastic about the collaboration. “What struck me immediately was how unfiltered and emotionally precise the writing is. Saurav and Tejas are telling a story that feels deeply rooted in lived experience, while also being cinematically ambitious. It’s exactly the kind of voice we want to support as we build our international slate,” Churi said.
Talbott, whose credits include Midday Black Midnight Blue and the drama series Born Again, echoed this sentiment. “I couldn’t be more excited to be teaming up with Neeraj Churi to help produce this bold, exquisite feature. The language of cinema is infinite, radical, and borderless, and this story feels emotionally urgent and deeply human,” Talbott commented.
Creative Vision from the Writers
Mahind and Shende expressed their gratitude for the partnership. “With Starvation, we wanted to explore desire and vulnerability without moral framing or polish. Having Neeraj and Daniel on board allows us to push the film both creatively and globally,” they stated.
The film is currently in development, with casting and financing announcements expected at a later date.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/markets-festivals/sundance-winner-neeraj-churi-daniel-talbott-tmumbai-queer-feature-starvation-1236750713/
