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Na Aavadti Goshta (2026)
Na Aavadti Goshta is a story of two small town cousin sisters Avantika & Soha who hate eachother. The sisters can't see eye to eye and are poles opposite. One an eternal optimist and the other a pessimist. But they both harbour similar dreams. Dreams of making it big in the city of London. Dreams of finding their voice and identity. As fate has it they get a chance to make their dreams come true. In this process they form a bond with eachother that never existed. They realised that family does matter in an alien country. They both get over their inhibitions. Soha the younger sister is a Queer and her coming out with it, and how Avantika deals with it and becomes Soha's voice and strength forms the narrative. The film is a beautiful journey of love, romance, acceptance and coming of age.
Director Biography - Sai Deodhar
Director Biography - Director Biography - Sai Deodhar
Sai Deodhar is an acclaimed Indian director, writer, and producer known for crafting emotionally resonant, socially relevant stories. After a successful acting career, she transitioned behind the camera, establishing a distinctive voice rooted in empathy and realism. Her short film D.A.T.E. won 78 international awards, earned a Filmfare nomination, and was acquired by Zee5, while Silent Ties won over 30 awards and streams on Amazon Prime. Sai has also produced the Zee5 biopic The Sholay Girl on India’s first stuntwoman, Reshma Pathan. She is currently completing her Hindi feature Bina Shakkar Ki Chai and recently finished the Marathi feature Na-Avadti Goshta, which sensitively explores LGBTQIA+ themes. Sai continues to push boundaries, championing inclusive narratives through cinema.
Director Statement - Sai Deodhar
Na Aavadti Goshta was born from a desire to tell a story about love that society often refuses to acknowledge. Growing up in a culture where certain emotions and identities are silenced, I wanted to explore what happens when two people are forced to confront feelings they themselves were never taught to understand.
Avantika and Soha begin as opposites—two cousins who cannot stand each other—yet their journey reveals how deeply human the search for identity, belonging, and love truly is. By placing them in a foreign land, away from familiar boundaries, their emotional truths slowly surface.
This film is not just about sexuality; it is about self-discovery, empathy, and the courage to accept who we are. My hope is that Na Aavadti Goshta opens conversations and reminds audiences that love, in all its forms, deserves dignity, understanding, and space to exist.
Na Aavadti Goshta (which translates to "A [Dis]liked Story" in Marathi) is a coming-of-age Marathi film centered around the journey of two sisters, their family dynamics, and the LGBTQIA+ community. It is a touching yet humorous exploration of identity, acceptance, and the importance of familial support for queer individuals.
The film marks the directorial debut of Sai Deodhar and stars a prominent cast including Mrunmayee Deshpande, Sayali Sanjeev, Suvrat Joshi, and Resham Shrivardhan
Please tell us your motivation for making your film:
Na Aavadti Goshta explores the complexity of relationships that begin with conflict but evolve into understanding. Through the story of two cousin sisters, Avantika and Soha—complete opposites who can’t stand each other—the film examines how rivalry, ambition, and shared dreams shape identity. Their journey from a small town to London becomes not only a pursuit of opportunity but also a path toward self-discovery and reconciliation. I was drawn to the idea that sometimes the people we resist the most become the ones who help us grow. Ultimately, the film celebrates the messy, transformative nature of family, sisterhood, and chasing one’s dreams.
What are the themes and central messages you wanted to convey with your submission?:
At its core, Na Aavadti Goshta explores the complexity of human relationships, particularly those shaped by rivalry, misunderstanding, and shared history. The story of Avantika and Soha reflects how people who seem fundamentally different can, through circumstance and emotional growth, develop empathy and understanding for one another. One of the central themes of the film is the evolution of relationships. The two protagonists begin their journey in conflict, unable to see beyond their differences. However, as they navigate challenges together, their rivalry gradually transforms into a deeper bond. The film suggests that conflict within close relationships is often a reflection of deeper emotional connections. Another key theme is the search for identity and belonging. Both characters come from a small-town background and share a dream of building a life beyond the limitations of their environment. Their journey to a new city symbolizes the universal desire among young people to discover who they are and where they belong. The film also explores the contrast between optimism and pessimism. Avantika’s hopeful outlook and Soha’s skepticism represent two different ways of approaching life’s uncertainties. Through their interactions, the narrative highlights how these opposing perspectives can ultimately complement and balance one another. Ultimately, the central message of Na Aavadti Goshta is that personal growth often emerges from uncomfortable relationships and unexpected companionship. Sometimes the people we struggle with the most become the ones who help us understand ourselves better. The film celebrates the messy, evolving nature of family, the courage to pursue one’s dreams, and the possibility of finding connection in the most unlikely places.
Credits:
Sai Deodhar
Director
Sai Deodhar
Writer
Ashwini Shende
Writer
Amit Malhotra
Producer
Kapil Malhotra
Producer
Nikhil Brahamania
Producer
Mrunmayee Deshpande
Key Cast
Sayali Sanjiv
Key Cast
Suvrat Joshi
Key Cast
Resham Shrivardhan
Key Cast
Uday Tikekar
Key Cast
Varsha Ghatpande
Key Cast
Usha Naik
Key Cast
Nikhil Ratnaparkhi
Key Cast
Sneha Raikar
Key Cast
Saksham Kulkarni
Key Cast
Specs:
Project Type:
Feature
Runtime:
2 hours
Completion Date:
July 21, 2025
Production Budget:
350,000 USD
Country of Origin:
India
Country of Filming:
United Kingdom
Language:
Marathi
Shooting Format:
35mm
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
Yes
Student Project:
No
- Year2026
- Runtime00:02:00
- Countryindi, United Kingdom
- Director
Na Aavadti Goshta (2026)
Na Aavadti Goshta is a story of two small town cousin sisters Avantika & Soha who hate eachother. The sisters can't see eye to eye and are poles opposite. One an eternal optimist and the other a pessimist. But they both harbour similar dreams. Dreams of making it big in the city of London. Dreams of finding their voice and identity. As fate has it they get a chance to make their dreams come true. In this process they form a bond with eachother that never existed. They realised that family does matter in an alien country. They both get over their inhibitions. Soha the younger sister is a Queer and her coming out with it, and how Avantika deals with it and becomes Soha's voice and strength forms the narrative. The film is a beautiful journey of love, romance, acceptance and coming of age.
Director Biography - Sai Deodhar
Director Biography - Director Biography - Sai Deodhar
Sai Deodhar is an acclaimed Indian director, writer, and producer known for crafting emotionally resonant, socially relevant stories. After a successful acting career, she transitioned behind the camera, establishing a distinctive voice rooted in empathy and realism. Her short film D.A.T.E. won 78 international awards, earned a Filmfare nomination, and was acquired by Zee5, while Silent Ties won over 30 awards and streams on Amazon Prime. Sai has also produced the Zee5 biopic The Sholay Girl on India’s first stuntwoman, Reshma Pathan. She is currently completing her Hindi feature Bina Shakkar Ki Chai and recently finished the Marathi feature Na-Avadti Goshta, which sensitively explores LGBTQIA+ themes. Sai continues to push boundaries, championing inclusive narratives through cinema.
Director Statement - Sai Deodhar
Na Aavadti Goshta was born from a desire to tell a story about love that society often refuses to acknowledge. Growing up in a culture where certain emotions and identities are silenced, I wanted to explore what happens when two people are forced to confront feelings they themselves were never taught to understand.
Avantika and Soha begin as opposites—two cousins who cannot stand each other—yet their journey reveals how deeply human the search for identity, belonging, and love truly is. By placing them in a foreign land, away from familiar boundaries, their emotional truths slowly surface.
This film is not just about sexuality; it is about self-discovery, empathy, and the courage to accept who we are. My hope is that Na Aavadti Goshta opens conversations and reminds audiences that love, in all its forms, deserves dignity, understanding, and space to exist.
Na Aavadti Goshta (which translates to "A [Dis]liked Story" in Marathi) is a coming-of-age Marathi film centered around the journey of two sisters, their family dynamics, and the LGBTQIA+ community. It is a touching yet humorous exploration of identity, acceptance, and the importance of familial support for queer individuals.
The film marks the directorial debut of Sai Deodhar and stars a prominent cast including Mrunmayee Deshpande, Sayali Sanjeev, Suvrat Joshi, and Resham Shrivardhan
Please tell us your motivation for making your film:
Na Aavadti Goshta explores the complexity of relationships that begin with conflict but evolve into understanding. Through the story of two cousin sisters, Avantika and Soha—complete opposites who can’t stand each other—the film examines how rivalry, ambition, and shared dreams shape identity. Their journey from a small town to London becomes not only a pursuit of opportunity but also a path toward self-discovery and reconciliation. I was drawn to the idea that sometimes the people we resist the most become the ones who help us grow. Ultimately, the film celebrates the messy, transformative nature of family, sisterhood, and chasing one’s dreams.
What are the themes and central messages you wanted to convey with your submission?:
At its core, Na Aavadti Goshta explores the complexity of human relationships, particularly those shaped by rivalry, misunderstanding, and shared history. The story of Avantika and Soha reflects how people who seem fundamentally different can, through circumstance and emotional growth, develop empathy and understanding for one another. One of the central themes of the film is the evolution of relationships. The two protagonists begin their journey in conflict, unable to see beyond their differences. However, as they navigate challenges together, their rivalry gradually transforms into a deeper bond. The film suggests that conflict within close relationships is often a reflection of deeper emotional connections. Another key theme is the search for identity and belonging. Both characters come from a small-town background and share a dream of building a life beyond the limitations of their environment. Their journey to a new city symbolizes the universal desire among young people to discover who they are and where they belong. The film also explores the contrast between optimism and pessimism. Avantika’s hopeful outlook and Soha’s skepticism represent two different ways of approaching life’s uncertainties. Through their interactions, the narrative highlights how these opposing perspectives can ultimately complement and balance one another. Ultimately, the central message of Na Aavadti Goshta is that personal growth often emerges from uncomfortable relationships and unexpected companionship. Sometimes the people we struggle with the most become the ones who help us understand ourselves better. The film celebrates the messy, evolving nature of family, the courage to pursue one’s dreams, and the possibility of finding connection in the most unlikely places.
Credits:
Sai Deodhar
Director
Sai Deodhar
Writer
Ashwini Shende
Writer
Amit Malhotra
Producer
Kapil Malhotra
Producer
Nikhil Brahamania
Producer
Mrunmayee Deshpande
Key Cast
Sayali Sanjiv
Key Cast
Suvrat Joshi
Key Cast
Resham Shrivardhan
Key Cast
Uday Tikekar
Key Cast
Varsha Ghatpande
Key Cast
Usha Naik
Key Cast
Nikhil Ratnaparkhi
Key Cast
Sneha Raikar
Key Cast
Saksham Kulkarni
Key Cast
Specs:
Project Type:
Feature
Runtime:
2 hours
Completion Date:
July 21, 2025
Production Budget:
350,000 USD
Country of Origin:
India
Country of Filming:
United Kingdom
Language:
Marathi
Shooting Format:
35mm
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
Yes
Student Project:
No
- Year2026
- Runtime00:02:00
- Countryindi, United Kingdom
- Director
