Puneet Sira is a British and Bollywood feature film director and producer who formed The Foundry which is actively developing original IPs in house and producing feature films, television series, animation projects and its multi award-winning podcasts.
His tenure at BBC Films gave him the foundation to build a career as director, writer and producer. Since then, he's been the executive producer of Channel [V] for the Star TV Network. He's produced and directed several dramas for television and feature films including I - Proud To Be An Indian (2004), Jai Veeru (2009) and Kisaan''', (2009) for which he received a Best Director honor. Virat Kohli's Super V (2019), a Superhero animation series, directed by Puneet for Disney+, Marvel HQ, Star TV Network, Hotstar and Baweja Movies is the highest rated show in the animation bracket in India with almost 200 million views.
Biography
Early career Sira started his career as an actor in the UK at the age of nine as a beggar boy in Annie Besant, The Warrior's Return(1977) as part of The Velvet Glove series for the BBC, directed by Philip Saville. Puneet went on to play in the feature film Arabian Adventure(1979). He played the lead role of Majeed, directed by Kevin Connor. In the same year Puneet played Kasava Minor in the BBC series To Serve Them All My Days (1979).
In 1980 Sira was the youngest member to participate in Comex 10, a commonwealth expedition sponsored by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Founded by Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Gregory, OBE, Comex 10 was an expedition where 40 artistes from all commonwealth countries toured India performing variety acts in every city visited.
More acting work followed from How We Used to Live (Yorkshire Television), Why Couples Break Up (Yorkshire Television), London's Burning (London Weekend Television), The Moneymen (London Weekend Television), The Park (Regent Productions), The Betrothed (LIFS) and the highly acclaimed Walkers Poppadoms Commercial, The Rocking Sikh directed by Paul Weiland.
Film-making career Sira became an assistant director at BBC Films Department on films such as Hallelujah Anyhow(1991) (Screen Two) starring Keith David, Sweet Nothing(1990) (Screen One) and Can You Hear Me Thinking?(1991) starring Judi Dench. He freelanced on Flying Colors (1993), Memsahib Rita (1994), Blue Baby (1994) before venturing into directing his own films like Strings (1996) which he also wrote and produced.
Sira was the director of the London Academy of Acting (a school founded by his father, Gurdial Sira in 1970), where he would teach acting for film. He set up an actors' agency, Talent Introduction Centre (T.I.C.), where he provided work for Asian actors in the UK.
Casting director was another title to Sira's credit: films such as Jinnah (1998) starring Christoper Lee, Flight(1992) (BBC Screen One), directed by Alex Pillai, Immaculate Conception (1992) directed by Jamil Dehlavi, Memsahib Rita (1994) and Frantz Fanon – Black Skin, White Mask (1996) directed by Isaac Julien. On the American feature film Passion in the Desert (1997) Sira worked on production.
Sira lectured on basic film making at Middlesex University and Italia Conti Acting Academy as a visiting lecturer.
In 1998, Sira became the executive producer for Rupert Murdoch's Channel V, (STAR TV), producing more than 22 television shows for the channel in Mumbai. He went on to produce and direct drama for television The Steal (2000) STAR TV, followed by Sanatta (2001) and Jataka Tales (2002) for Japanese television which Sira directed and produced with his partner Vikram Dhillon. Sira went on to direct the feature films I - Proud To Be An Indian (2004), Jai Veeru (2009) and Kisaan (2009).
As a screenwriter Sira wrote I - Proud To Be An Indian with Vekeana Dhillon. Together they have written the screenplay for the feature film Kurbani for Feroz Khan (FK International) and Spiceboy for Miracle Films. Sira had written The Steal and Sanatta.
Sira and Vikram Dhillon are partners in The Foundry, a production company which has developed several feature films as well as several IP for the major OTT platforms, and award-winning scripted podcasts for Audible such as the adaptations of Pride & Prejudice, Sherlock Holmes and Kama Sutra which ranked No. 1 in Audible's Wellness & Self Help Podcasts of 2023 and ranked No. 2 of the Audible's most listened to Originals and Exclusives of 2023. It also won Audiobook of the year at India Audio Summit & Awards (2022)
Filmography TitleYearDesignationGenreCompanyNoteWoman in Bed #32024Producer / DirectorPodcast SeriesThe Foundry / AudibleThe Foundry's original fully immersive audio drama of 15 episodesPride and Prejudice2023ProducerPodcast SeriesThe Foundry / AudibleThe Foundry's original adaption into Hindi Winner of "Best Audiobook Narration" Golden Mikes Radio & Audio Awards (2023).Sherlock Holmes Ki Romanchak Kahaniyan2022ProducerPodcast SeriesThe Foundry / AudibleThe Foundry's original adaption into Hindi. Winner of "Best Audiobook Narration" Golden Mikes Radio & Audio Awards (2023).
Winner of "The Best Story Narration based on a Book" e4m Play Streaming Media Awards (2023) Kama Sutra2022ProducerAudiobookThe Foundry / AudibleThe Foundry's original adaption into Hindi. Winner of "Audiobook of the Year" India Audio Summit & Awards (2022)Karmabhoomi2022ProducerAudiobookThe Foundry / AudibleRaat Hone Ko Hai2022Producer / Series DirectorAnimation SeriesThe Foundry / Ishara TVLimited SeriesSuper V2019-2020Series DirectorSuperhero Animation SeriesDisney+, Marvel HQ, Star TV Network, Hotstar, Baweja MoviesThe Great Punjabi Luv Shuv StoryUnder ProductionDirector / ProducerWeb SeriesAltbalaji / Eyeline EntettainmentJi KardaUnder ProductionProducer / StoryFeature FilmEyeline EntertainmentDir: Vikram DhillonPhoto Jatt Di2018ProducerMusic VideoThe FoundryDir: Vikram DhillonNovember 22018ProducerMusic VideoThe FoundryDir: Vikram DhillonMarr Ke Khuda2018ProducerMusic VideoThe FoundryDir: Vikram DhillonPinky Moge Wali2012Special ThanksFeature FilmKapil Batra ProductionsDir: Vikram DhillonKisaan2009DirectorFeature FilmSohail Khan ProductionsSAFF L.A. Award: DirectorJai Veeru2009DirectorFeature FilmVenus / Siddhi Vinayak MoviesKurbani2008WriterFeature FilmF.K. InternationalDir: Feroz KhanFlipped Campaign: MTV Arabia2006Director9 CommercialsMTV Arabia / Raj Taru (Dubai)Series of 9 commercials for the "Flipped" campaign.Jawani2004ProducerMusic VideoAura EntertainmentDir: Vikram DhillonRog Judaayian2004ProducerMusic VideoAura EntertainmentDir: Dharmendra Suresh Desai & Vishal SethiI-Proud To Be An Indian2004Director / WriterFeature FilmSohail Khan ProductionsJataka Tales2003Director / ProducerTelevisionKavya Films / Miracle FilmsSpiceboy2003WriterFeature FilmMiracle FilmsSanatta2002Director / Producer / WriterTelevisionMiracle FilmsSociety Achiever's Awards2002ProducerTelevisionVisual-Eyes EntertainmentSociety Magazine: A Class Act2001Director / Producer / Writer3 CommercialsVisual-Eyes Entertainment / Magna PublishingSeries of commercials for the "A Class Act" campaign.The Steal2000Director / Producer / WriterTelevisionStar TV India[V] Dares You1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Challenge1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)The Juice1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Cool Maal1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Sophiya's Choice1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Patli Galli 1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Style Police1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Late Night [V]1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)[V] People1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)The Chair1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)[V] On Campus1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)[V] Saba1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Tea with [V}1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Li[V]e Video Requests1999Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Flashback1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)First Day First Show1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Maang Ta Hai1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)By Demand1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Flashback 1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)OYE1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)House Arrest1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Rewind1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Speak Easy1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)The Ticket1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Soul Curry1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)House of Noise1998Executive producerTelevisionChannel V (Star TV)Jinnah1998Casting DirectorFeature FilmPetra Films (UK)Dir: Jamil DehlaviStrings1997Director / Producer / WriterFilmGlobal Pictures (UK)Passion In The Desert1997Production SecretaryFeature FilmRoland Films (UK)Dir: Lavinia CurrierWorld Beach Volleyball Championship1996DirectorSports TelevisionESPN / Procam SportsLast Cloud on Margalla Hills1996DirectorTheatreOval House Theatre (UK)Franz Fannon – Black Skin White Mask1996Casting DirectorTelevisionBBC / Normal FilmsDir: Issac JulienFlight1996Casting DirectorFeature FilmBBC Films / Hindi PicturesDir: Alex PillaiMemsahib Rita1994Assistant directorFilmBBC Films / Leda Serene FilmsDir: Pratibha ParmarFlying Colours1993Casting Director / Assistant DirectorFilmN.F.T.S.Dir: Alex PillaiBlue Baby1993Assistant directorFilmN.F.T.S.Immaculate Conception1992Casting DirectorFeature FilmDehlavi Films (UK)Dir: Jamil DehlaviDay Twelve1991Director / Writer / ProducerShort FilmCBFWClapham & Battersea Film FestivalHallelujah Anyhow1991Assistant directorFeature FilmBBC FilmsDir: Matthew JacobsCan You Hear Me Thinking?1990Assistant directorFeature FilmBBC FilmsDir: Christopher MorahanSweet Nothing1990Assistant directorFeature FilmBBC FilmsDir: Tony SmithDec 141990Director / Writer / ProducerShort FilmCBFWClapham & Battersea Film FestivalThe Betrothed 1990"Arjun" ActorFilmL.I.F.S.The Paradise Club1989"Elvis" ActorTelevisionZenith EntertainmentDir: Murray SmithWhy Couples Break Up 1989"Lover" ActorTelevisionYorkshire TelevisionEntertainment Tonight1988SelfTelevisionUS TelevisionNight Network1988SelfTelevisionLondon Weekend TelevisionThe Rocking Sikh1988"Rocking Sikh" ActorCommercialThe Weiland CompanyDir: Paul WeilandLondon's Burning1988"Indian Waiter" ActorTelevisionLondon Weekend TelevisionDir: John ReardonThe Money Men1987"Dealer" ActorTV movieLondon Weekend TelevisionDir: John BruceHow We Used To Live1987"Sanjay" ActorTelevisionYorkshire TelevisionComex 101980Variety ActTheatreCommonwealth ExpeditionDir: Colonel Lionel Gregory Sponsored by: The Duke of Edinburgh - Prince PhilipTo Serve Them All My Days1980"Kasava Minor" ActorTelevisionBBC SeriesDir: Ronald WilsonArabian Adventure1979"Majeed" ActorFeature FilmEMI / Badger FilmsDir: Kevin ConnorThe Four Feathers1978"Arab Boy" Voice (uncredited)Feature FilmTrident FilmsDir: Don SharpThe Velvet Glove – Warriors Return1977"Indian Boy" ActorTelevisionBBC SeriesDir: Philip Saville
Awards 2023: Golden Mikes Radio and Audio Awards - Producer (Sherlock Holmes Ki Romanchak Kahaniyan) 2023: Golden Mikes Radio and Audio Awards - Producer (Pride & Prejudice) 2023: e4m Play Streaming Media Awards - Producer (Sherlock Holmes Ki Romanchak Kahaniyan) 2022: India Audio Summit & Awards - Producer (Kama Sutra) 2010: SAFF L.A. Award - Director (Kisaan)
References
External links
I Proud To Be An Indian @ IMDbI Proud To Be An Indian @ Bollywood Hungama'' (IndiaFM)
Trailer of Jai Veeru