OFFSCRIPT with Ritika Agrawal

BONUS: 30 Years in Hollywood: From Adam Sandler's Dormmate to Grey's Anatomy & Never Have I Ever | with Anjul Nigam

Before Grey’s Anatomy, True Detective, and Never Have I Ever, Anjul Nigam was a student at NYU during the golden age of indie cinema, chasing auditions and living with Adam Sandler as a dormmate. His journey has been anything but straightforward: a sudden rise in Hollywood, four years of unemployment, rebuilding through theatre, and eventually stepping into producing with his breakout film Growing Up Smith, a passion project that took a decade, played 25 festivals, and even caught the attention of Barack Obama. In this Chai with Champs bonus episode, Anjul reflects on 30+ years of navigating acting and producing, from the grind of auditions to creating Persona Entertainment with Alec Baldwin. He breaks down the realities actors and filmmakers rarely hear, the truth about sustaining a career, and the hidden mechanics of producing: financing, packaging, and attaching talent. This isn’t just a conversation, it’s a candid playbook from someone who’s lived the highs and lows of Hollywood. Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema  Follow us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll [00:00] – Welcome to the Episode[01:12] – Who Really is Anjul Nigam?[07:26] – From NYU in the ’80s to Adam Sandler’s Dormmate: The Road to Acting[10:10] – The Harsh Truth About Hollywood: Grey’s Anatomy, True Detective & 30 Years of Survival[23:00] – The Sudden Rise… Then 4 Years With No Work. What Happens Next?[32:03] – The Reality of Auditions, Theatre, TV & Movies (Nobody Talks About This)[37:35] – Producing Your Own Film: How Growing Up Smith Took 10 Years & 25 Festivals[47:45] – How to Build Relationships in Hollywood And Work with Oscar Winners[51:00] – Why Calling Yourself an “Aspiring Actor” Could Be Ruining Your Career[55:20] – Final Thoughts & Wrap

How to Make Your First Short Film Without Industry Access | with Renu Razdan

She walked away from corporate stability to become a full-time actor. That’s how Renu Razdan has built her path in indie cinema, acting for years on sets, then producing and starring in A Newlywed Story, proving you don’t need a safety net or traditional industry backing to create meaningful work. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Renu breaks down the real planning behind making your first short film, how to navigate the money conversation when leaving corporate life, and whether indie filmmakers truly need to be in LA, or if thriving creative hubs like Atlanta, Chicago and New York are rewriting the rules. For anyone thinking about making the leap, this conversation is the roadmap. Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema  Follow us:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll [00:00] - Welcome to the Episode [01:45] - Meet Renu Razdan: Actor, Filmmaker & Storyteller on the Rise [05:29] - Breaking In: How to Build Trust, Pivot & Navigate Different Cinema Landscapes [09:00] - Atlanta vs LA: What It Really Takes to Become an Actor [11:45] - Building Wealth & Balance: How Multihyphenates Turn Skills Into Remote Work & Daily Structure [20:45] - Love, Partnership & Film: Building Something With Your Life Partner in the Same Industry [27:28] - The Ultimate Guide: Bringing Your First Short Film to Life (& Into Festivals) [40:50] - Do You Really Need to Be in LA to Make It in Hollywood? [44:35] - Spill the Chai | Rapid-Fire with Renu [48:22] - The Advice She’d Give Her Younger Self & The Legacy She’s Building [50:26] - Bringing South Asian Cinema to Center Stage

From NYU Film School to Zoya Akhtar's Made in Heaven: Cinematography Across Borders| with Neeraj Jain

What does it take to go from film school at NYU to working with Zoya Akhtar on one of India’s most iconic streaming shows, Made in Heaven? For cinematographer Neeraj Jain, the answer lies in telling stories through light, building trust across borders, and committing to frames that honor complexity and nuance. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Neeraj shares his path from training under masters to becoming a DP who moves fluidly between India and the U.S. He breaks down the real challenges young cinematographers face, the debate between mastering gear vs mastering vision, and how OTT platforms and AI are changing the craft. From the raw truths of indie filmmaking to building min(d) studio as a space for socially rigorous stories, Neeraj reveals what it takes to create work that lasts. Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll [00:00] - Welcome to the Episode! [01:00] - Meet Neeraj Jain: The Eye Behind the Camera [05:58] - Cinematography Explained: Turning Emotions Into Screens & Building the Right Team [10:20] - How to Reach Out, Collaborate & Get Noticed in the Industry [17:00] - Embracing Uncertainty: Why the “Work in Progress” Journey Matters (and the Role of Film School) [22:30] - From Film School to Made in Heaven: How Neeraj Worked with Zoya Akhtar & Navigated India vs USA Work Culture [29:30] - The Business of Filmmaking: AI, Producing, Distribution & What You Should Be Doing Right Now [45:00] - Spill the Chai | Rapid-Fire with Neeraj [50:00] - Advice to His Younger Self & The Legacy He’s Building [52:00] - Bringing South Asian Cinema to the Global Stage

From YouTube Virality to Netflix: The Real Blueprint on Financing, Distributing & Greenlighting your Show | with Abi Varghese

Abi Varghese turned an immigrant story into a phenomenon in Kerala and parlayed that momentum into directing for Netflix and Eros Now. He didn’t wait for backing or permission; he built his own audience and carried them with him. That path has become the foundation for his banner, Infamous Coconuts, which is now pushing regional Indian stories onto a global stage. In this episode of Chai with Champs, Abi reveals how indie creators can actually move from YouTube to streaming platforms, the unspoken realities of financing and distribution, and the trade-offs every filmmaker faces when selling to platforms versus holding the rights. He also breaks down what makes international co-productions succeed, why cross-regional collaborations within India are long overdue, and the next steps South Asian cinema must take to compete on a global level. Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll [00:00] - Welcome to the Episode! [01:00] - Meet Abi Varghese: From Sitcoms to Feature Films [02:46] - 3 Years at Unilever → How Corporate Life Made Him a Better Filmmaker [06:00] - Cracking YouTube Virality for a Global Audience [09:35] - Skipping Film School: How Strategy Beats Tradition [13:00] - The Untold Truth: Funding Films, Pitching to Netflix & Selling Your Vision [22:30] - How to Find Your Audience & Build an Unstoppable Brand [27:00] - Red Flags to Watch Out for When Working Internationally [31:56] - Why This Is a Rough Time for Indie & Hollywood — And What Artists Should Do [35:00] - Beyond South Asian Audiences: How to Reach the Masses & Attach Big Names [38:38] - Spill the Chai | Rapid-Fire with Abi [44:13] - Advice to His Younger Self & The Legacy He’s Building [46:00] - Bringing South Asian Cinema to the Global Stage

She Landed "The Big Bang Theory" without Film School. Here's How | with Rachna Khatau

When Rachna Khatau walked onto the set of The Big Bang Theory as Kathleen, she wasn’t backed by film school credentials or industry connections, just persistence, strategy, and the belief that she belonged in the room. In this episode of Chai with Champs, she shares exactly how she broke into one of the most competitive auditions in television, what actors never hear about surviving the waiting game between paychecks, and why she started building her own stages through theater, South Asian Happy Hour, and mentorship. Rachna also takes us inside the post-SAG strike reality: how budgets, and typecasting are reshaping opportunities, and what South Asian actors must do to demand multidimensional roles instead of stereotypes. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate uncertainty as an actor, build your own platforms, or push the industry toward authentic representation, this conversation is full of the insider truths you won’t hear anywhere else. Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll [00:00] - Welcome to the Episode [01:10] - Who is Rachna Khatau [05:40] - Wearing Many Hats: From Singer to TV Host to Hollywood Actor [10:00] - From Agent Hunt to The Big Bang Theory: How Rachna Landed the Role [16:45] - The DIY Process: Storytelling on Your Own Terms [20:10] - Staying Relevant in Hollywood & Building Financial Security [27:30] - Creating Community Through South Asian Happy Hour [34:00] - Shattering Stereotypes: Authentic South Asian Representation in Hollywood [43:45] - Spill the Chai: Rapid-Fire with Rachna [48:30] - Advice to Her Younger Self & The Legacy She’s Building [50:55] - Bringing South Asian Cinema to Center Stage