She directed a short film about a pickpocket and made it feel like poetry. Divya Bandaru is a filmmaker-actor whose precision behind and in front of the camera makes her one of the most interesting voices in Telugu independent cinema.
Divya Bandaru is an actor, writer, and director working at the intersection of indie Telugu cinema and short-form storytelling. She co-wrote and directed Etthulu (2022) alongside Camp Sasi, and wrote and directed Pickpocket (2022) — a crime short that went on to garner enough attention to spawn a sequel.
As an actress, she has appeared in Ranganaayaki and Nirudyoga Natulu, where she played the role of The Landlord under the screen name Divya Bakshi. Her work spans both sides of the camera, reflecting a deep investment in storytelling at every level of production.
Her short film Lal Darwaza, which she wrote and directed, has been shortlisted for screening at the Seoul International New Waves Film Awards 2026 and continues its festival run. She recently completed the screenplay for Nude, currently in the production pitch stage and submitted to international film festivals for production funding. She is also credited as additional writer on Viral Video, and is presently writing and pitching her next feature film.
Currently writing and pitching her next feature film.
Films
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