“I've Always Believed Great Stories Need The Right People Behind Them” Says Haiwaan Producer Shailaja Desai Fenn

After spending over two decades managing some of the biggest names in Indian entertainment, Shailaja Desai Fenn is embarking on an exciting new chapter. As the founder of Artist Management, she built a career around nurturing talent and creating meaningful collaborations. Today, through her production banner Thespian Films founded along with partner Satish Fenn, she is bringing that same passion to filmmaking. In this candid conversation, she talks about her transition into production, her recent success with Balan and upcoming feature Haiwaan, and the kind of stories she hopes to champion.

You've spent more than twenty years in talent management. Why did this feel like the right time to become a producer?

I don't see it as leaving one profession for another. I see it as building on everything I've learnt over the years. Talent management gave me a front row seat to the creative process. I had the privilege of working with incredible artists, understanding what inspires them and what makes a story truly connect. I still am happily running that piece of my life. Producing allows me to be involved much earlier in the journey, right from identifying stories to helping shape them into films.

Looking back, what has talent management taught you that you're carrying into production?

The biggest lesson has been that relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you're managing an artist or producing a film, it's about trust, collaboration and bringing together people who share the same vision. Those are principles I've always believed in, and they remain the foundation of how I approach producing.

I want Thespian Film to be a home for stories that stay with audiences long after they leave the theatre. Having worked closely with talent for so many years, I've seen how often exceptional performers are searching for equally compelling stories. My hope is to bridge that space by backing projects that are creatively rich while also connecting with a wide audience.

Your first production was Balan. What made you say yes to this film?

The story moved me from the very beginning. It has honesty, emotion and a very distinctive voice. It also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with Chidambaram, whose storytelling has resonated with audiences across the country. For a first production, it felt like exactly the kind of film we wanted to stand behind. I am extremely happy with the response the film has garnered and couldn’t have asked for anything more for our first feature. I am also extremely grateful to KVN Productions who saw the same vision with us and that partnership extends into Haiwaan as well. The foundation is always being able to have a strong collaborator and in our case, KVN Productions.

You're also producing Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan and starring Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar. That couldn't be more different from Balan.

That's precisely what excites me. I don't want our films to be confined to one genre or one kind of cinema. Haiwaan is a large scale commercial entertainer with an emotional core, while Balan is a very different storytelling experience. As producers, we want to support stories that are diverse but always engaging. I mean, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to work with Priyadarshan Sir and a stalwarts like Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Boman Irani.

Has becoming a producer changed the way you look at cinema? And what’s next after Haiwaan?

It has certainly deepened my appreciation for the sheer amount of work that goes into bringing a film to life. As a producer, you're constantly balancing the creative vision with practical realities, while ensuring everyone involved feels empowered to do their best work.

With regards to our next, right now it’s only Haiwaan on our minds. We already have our slate in place and right after Haiwan, have something equally exciting on the cards to announce. The ambition is simple, If audiences connect with our films and remember them long after the credits roll, we'll know we're heading in the right direction.