Priyanka Chopra has joined ‘We Were Here’, an Indian short film exploring fears about artificial intelligence replacing human workers, as an executive producer.
Written and directed by Pranav Bhasin, the 11-minute comedy follows three retired men who believe machines are taking over jobs. According to Variety, Chopra was drawn to the film’s timely subject and original approach.
As per NDTV, Chopra said, “This film offers a refreshing, witty take on a subject that feels very timely” . She added that she wanted to support the creative team and help bring its vision to a wider audience.
Set in a fictional Indian town, ‘We Were Here’ follows the three men as they attempt to fight technological advancement by disguising themselves as household appliances rather than staging a conventional protest. Their campaign takes an unexpected turn when one of their children enters the artificial intelligence industry, forcing them to confront the changing relationship between humans and machines.
The film also questions whether society is giving enough consideration to humanity amid rapid technological progress.
Produced by Yash Gonsai, the film features Satish Kashyap, Dvendra Dodke, Arindol Bagchi, Shubham Kujur and Kalpana Gagdekar, among others. Actor Andrew Scott has also joined the project as an executive producer.
‘We Were Here’ premiered at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, where it won the Canal+ Prize. It has since screened at more than 80 international festivals and received over 20 awards.
Following its success at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, the film qualified for consideration for the 99th Academy Awards.
‘The New Yorker’ has acquired the short film and plans to premiere it on its official YouTube channels.
