Actress Suchandra X Vanya Set to Make Her Mark in Bollywood

Kolkata-born actress Suchandra X Vanya, who has impressed audiences with her talent in the Bengal film industry, is now preparing to step into Bollywood. She is currently in the spotlight for her highly ambitious project, “The Garuna”, a film blending mystery, adventure, ancient history, legends, and mythology with a powerful message. The shooting of the film is scheduled to begin in October.

Coming from a small town in West Bengal, Suchandra has carved a distinct place in the Bengali film industry not only as an actress but also as a director and producer. Under her own banner, Vanya Group of Company, she has been actively involved in filmmaking. As an actress, she has appeared in several Bengali films, web series, and short films, including Diet (Hotstar), Poth Jodi Na Shesh Hoy (Klikk), Balukabela.com (ZEE5), Bonku Babu (ZEE5), Jamai Boren, Not a Dirty Film (Klikk), Chotushkone (Prime Video), Conditions Apply (Prime Video), Kolkata e Columbus (Sony LIV), Neelachale Kiriti, Surjo Prithibir Charidike Ghore, and Poorbo Poshchim Dokkhin Uttor Ashbei.

Her directorial journey began with her own production “Poorbo Poshchim Dokkhin Uttor Ashbei”, a big-budget Bengali spiritual thriller that proved successful at the box office. She later directed “Surpanakha Agomon” (The Arrival of Shurpanakha), a 17-minute short film portraying the dialogues and emotions of Mata Sita and Shurpanakha. Shot in Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal with Chhau artists, tribal performers, and newcomers, the film was selected for the 2022 Kolkata International Film Festival and went on to win more than 10 awards in various categories.

Raised in South Kolkata in a family where art and cinema were part of everyday life, Suchandra’s father’s passion for photography and film discussions shaped her creative outlook. She first acted in a short film during her school days, where she was noticed by a director and given a role, marking the beginning of her acting career. Though she initially aspired to be an actress, her passion for direction and production was always present. She pursued film direction at the New York Film Academy and further honed her skills at the Sujit Roy Institute.

Today, Suchandra X Vanya is an award-winning actress and director, actively involved in social work and helping the underprivileged. She believes cinema should blend entertainment with culture, history, and tradition, offering audiences meaningful insights through storytelling.

Currently, she is engaged in several Bengali projects as well as two upcoming Hindi films, paving her way into Bollywood. “This is just the beginning of my journey,” she says. “The destination is yet to come, and I will reach it on my own terms, with dignity and self-respect.”