At Star Hopper, we’re a small and audacious team of multidisciplinary creatives united by a deep passion for storytelling.
Asawari Jagushte
They/Them
CO-FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CREATIVE PRODUCER
Asawari is the co-founder, Executive and Creative Producer at Star Hopper. As a filmmaker and curator, Asawari’s work stems from the desire to find the blurring lines between fiction and non-fiction formats. Asawari was one of the Direction Jury for the esteemed D&AD Awards 2021 & 2022 (UK) - a prestigious benchmark for creative excellence in Design and Advertising. With a masters from London Film School and Kingston University, UK, and with extensive experience in the industry, Asawari's work has garnered global recognition and appreciation. Their first directorial short The Housemaids has been on Amazon Prime (UK/USA), Disney+Hotstar (India) and is currently streaming on Jio Cinema(India). In 2013, their graduation film Dionysian Rhapsody screened at the ICA(UK) and White Chapel Gallery (UK). They have produced Bodies of Desire, a short that travelled to more than 60+ film festivals including Berlin Commercial, Outfest LA, BFI Flare and was also a part of #Fivefilmsforfreedom curation by British Council and BFI Flare. Aside from producing films, they also partner with interdisciplinary artists and organisations who work towards experimenting and breaking the confines of their traditional art forms to find a language that is collective, personal and engaging. They have so far worked with artists and organisations like British Council (Wales/UK/India), Artlink (Switzerland), Serendipity Arts Festival (India), Clowns without Borders (Sweden), MetaArts(India) and Goethe Institut (Mumbai). As a trans neurodivergent filmmaker, Asawari finds life more than what meets the eye. On a mission to bring more authentic and diverse South Asian narratives to the forefront, Asawari works towards building a culture that is eclectic and transformative.
Varsha Panikar
They/He
CO-FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CREATIVE PRODUCER
Varsha Panikar is a Mumbai-based filmmaker, author, illustrator, and interdisciplinary artist. As co-founder and Artistic Director of Star Hopper Studio, their creative journey challenges the status quo, crafting narratives by and of South Asian voices. Their films have screened at prestigious festivals like BFI Flare, Outfest LA, and Fringe! Queer Fest UK, with Bodies of Desire featured in #FiveFilmsForFreedom by BFI Flare and the British Council, earning multiple awards. Their work has appeared on platforms like Nowness Asia, Disney+ Star, and MTV. A Mintathon Grantee and BeFantastic C³ Fellow, Varsha explores emerging technologies like NFTs and AR in projects such as the Ara Chronicles, a queer children’s picture book series exhibited at Kala Ghoda Festival 2024. Beyond film, they run Riot Ink Press (RIP), a platform amplifying queer voices, and co-curate Underground Film Observatory (UFO), showcasing feminist moving works and experimental cinema. Their process is punk in its defiance, feminist in its urgency, and queer in its essence. Spanning poetry, zines, photography, and performance, Varsha’s interdisciplinary practice is fueled by a love for horror and a mission to disrupt oppressive systems. Their work blends authenticity with radical care, inviting others to imagine a messy, magical, and radically inclusive world.
Shataakshi Verma
She/Her
CULTURE MANAGER, PROGRAMMING HEAD
Shataakshi Verma is a dedicated human rights and minority rights worker and activist renowned for her extensive work across South and East Asia. Focused on gender justice, peace-building, minority rights, and humanitarian assistance, she contributes significantly to labor policies, advocacy, project management, livelihood, and press freedom. At Reporters Without Borders' East Asia Bureau Program Manager, Shataakshi empowers journalists and media organizations in China and across region. She's also the Founder and Director of the Art of Freedom Project, a Kabul-based women's collective fostering peace and gender equality through art, especially in conflict-affected regions. Shataakshi's use of film and theater to amplify marginalized voices underscores her commitment to positive change.
VIRENDER SINGH
They/Them
DIRECTOR, EDITOR, WRITER,
Virender Singh is a filmmaker, content creator, and aspiring journalist with a profound commitment to exploring intersectionality and queer euphoria. Currently a Senior Writer at Design Pataki, Virender crafts exclusive features on architectural projects, home décor, and luxury living. Their film industry roles in India have included assistant director, executive producer, and casting director. Notably, Virender directed Disney Star's Impact Stories campaign, addressing the challenges of India’s LGBTQIA+ community. With a rich background in writing and video editing for Elle Decor India and Homegrown, their work primarily focuses on interior design, architecture, and arts and culture. They are also very passionate about poetry, portrait photography and open mic culture at speak easy bars. On a weekend, you will find them brunching and thrift shopping for old paperbacks.
Sophia David
She/Her
DEI STRATEGIST
Sophia David (She/Her) represented India for UN Women at the International Conference for Gender Equality. She is a TED Speaker who is instrumental in pioneering LGBTQIA+ Rights at several organisations. Sophia is an Organizational Development Professional who double hats on DEI Boards and Councils globally because of her expertise in policy making and culture change. Her dynamic leadership within her talent group facilitates learning in Leadership, Behaviour, and Communication. She is an International Human Rights Advocate with a focus on Women & LGBTQ+ issues and believes everyone should lend their voice to issues that affect 'all' people. As our DEI Strategist, she expertly addresses Unconscious Bias, Inclusion, and Diversity, sharing "lived experiences" to challenge societal norms around identity and self-worth. Beyond her professional realm, Sophia works as a theatre and voice artist, and is an avid reader of Poetry and Fiction, embodying her belief in the transformative power of storytelling.
Radhika Nair
She/Her
LEGAL COUNSEL, RESEARCHER
Radhika Nair is an accomplished lawyer and socio-legal researcher, currently serving as an Academic Fellow at NLSIU Bengaluru. With a foundation as an advocate in Delhi, she holds a Master's in European and International Human Rights Law from Leiden University, Netherlands. As an Associate Editor for the National Law School Journal and an Academic Fellow, Radhika is immersed in legal academia. Her impactful roles include Project Manager at Stichting Unity In Diversity (UID) and Program Manager at the Centre For Social Justice, India. Radhika's academic journey is notable, with a BA LLB from Delhi University, a Master's in Sociology from Delhi College of Economics, and a previous BA in Media Studies from Indraprastha University. Her areas of expertise encompass migration, statelessness, security, discrimination and labour law. With a fervent commitment to legal research and advocacy, Radhika Nair's accomplishments exemplify her dedication to effecting positive change within the legal landscape.