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Director, producer and writer Anay Sanghvi is set to unveil his latest short film, Empty Frames, starring Vishal Singh (Saath Nibhana Saathiya fame). In a bold departure from his television image, Singh takes on the role of a homeless musician, portraying a character rooted in resilience and suppressed emotions. Speaking about the challenges of wearing multiple hats as writer, director, and producer, Sanghvi shared: “The most challenging part of writing, directing, and producing Empty Frames was that I tend to go extremely creative, but filmmaking always comes with budgetary and logistical limits… Being in charge of every aspect was tiring, but witnessing my team share the same dedication and excitement for the project was extraordinary.”
Authenticity drives the heart of Empty Frames. To prepare Singh for the role, Anay immersed him in the real world of street musicians in Los Angeles. “Authenticity was everything. Kian’s journey is rooted in real street musicians I met in Downtown LA… Vishal approached it with hunger and vulnerability, pushing past his television persona. He didn’t just perform Kian, he carried the voices of the people who inspired him. That balance of grit and empathy became the soul of Empty Frames,” Anay Sanghvi revealed.
The filmmaker has already built an impressive body of work across formats, from Disney India’s Imagine That and Hotstar’s Code M Season 2, to global collaborations with Dhar Mann Studios and ReelShort. Reflecting on lessons learned from navigating diverse mediums, he noted: “Long-form gave me the space to dive into character building and emotional depth. Short-form taught me that every frame has to pull its weight… I’ve been able to develop and hone a visual and emotional language that is true to me, enriched by experiences across formats.”
For Sanghvi, storytelling is ultimately about amplifying unheard voices. “I’m drawn to stories that give voice to the unheard… I naturally gravitate toward nuance, vulnerability, and resilience. Those small, often fragile qualities that make characters feel alive. Those are the stories that linger with me long after I’ve watched them, and they’re the ones I hope stay with audiences too,” he shared. With Empty Frames poised for release, Sanghvi continues to shape a cinematic voice that bridges authenticity, global storytelling, and deeply human emotion.
