Actress Saiyami Kher is gearing up for her international debut with an upcoming Indo-Russian drama helmed by filmmaker Maksim Kuznetsov. The project, which has been shot across India and Russia, marks a new chapter in her career as she ventures into international cinema. 

Although the makers have yet to reveal the film's title and other details, Saiyami has confirmed that the story revolves around a strong female protagonist. The actress also opened up about her experience of working with an international crew, describing the collaboration as an opportunity to explore different approaches to filmmaking.

Saiyami Kher opens up about filming in Russia

For Saiyami, the project brought several firsts, including her maiden visit to Russia and the experience of working with a crew from a different cultural background.

Sharing her experience, the actress said in a statement, “This was a completely different and new experience for me, working with an entirely foreign crew. We shot in Russia, and it was my first time there.”

She also spoke about her time in Moscow and how the filmmaking environment differed from what she had previously experienced.

“Moscow was beautiful, and the overall film experience was incredible. The working atmosphere was very different from what I’m used to, and I really enjoyed being part of this collaboration. I hope this is the first of many more international projects to follow.”

'Working across cultures gives you a different perspective'

Beyond the experience of shooting overseas, Saiyami said collaborating with artists and technicians from different countries had broadened her understanding of cinema.

“It’s so much fun to work across borders and language barriers. Working across cultures gives you a different perspective on storytelling and allows you to learn from people who approach cinema in their own unique ways.”

The actress also offered a brief insight into the upcoming film while maintaining that it was too early to disclose further information about the project.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to experience I’m grateful to have been part of it. While it’s still too early to share details about the film, it is a drama with a very strong female lead at its heart.”

The yet-to-be-titled drama is jointly produced by Kartina Entertainment, White Night Films and Wish Media. Bringing together talent from India and Russia, the production aims to explore storytelling beyond geographical and linguistic boundaries.

Saiyami Kher's recent film

On the professional front, Saiyami was last seen in 'Haiwaan', a neo-noir crime thriller co-written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film is a remake of the filmmaker's 2016 Malayalam thriller 'Oppam'.

The Hindi adaptation featured Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in prominent roles, alongside Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who headlined the original film, also made a cameo appearance.

'Haiwaan' marked the on-screen reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after 18 years. The actors had previously worked together in the 2008 film 'Tashan', which also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Despite bringing the two actors back together after nearly two decades, 'Haiwaan' failed to make an impact at the box office and was regarded as a major commercial disappointment.