Riya Vaidya: The Vision Behind Indian Artistry & Cinema’s New Global Canvas

Riya Vaidya is redefining what it means to be an Indian artist on the global cinematic stage. A production designer whose work is rooted in visual poetry and cross-cultural resonance, she has built a portfolio that seamlessly blends independent cinema, music, and streaming content. Her recent accomplishments in 2025 mark a career peak—establishing her among India’s most internationally recognized creative voices.

This October, Ms. Vaidya’s award-winning short film Pathaka was officially selected for the Chelsea Film Festival, held from October 16–19, 2025, in New York. Recognized for celebrating independent and emerging filmmakers worldwide, Chelsea honored Pathaka for its storytelling craft and Ms. Vaidya’s meticulous production design that layered emotion into every frame. Earlier in the year, Pathaka also travelled to Italy’s Giffoni Film Festival, one of the most prestigious and longest-running youth-oriented festivals in the world, followed by screenings at Dances With Films, Kinolub Poland, and Cinemagic UK. These selections placed Ms. Vaidya at the center of global conversations around cinema that bridges culture and creativity.

Her short film Dead Girl, a haunting exploration of love, grief and atonement, continued its international festival success through multiple Oscar®-qualifying platforms. It was screened at the LA Shorts International Film Festival in August, one of the world’s most competitive short film events, and later featured at AFI FEST in Los Angeles and the Chicago Horror Film Festival. Dead Girl also played at the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival in North Carolina and KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival—two globally regarded LGBTQ+ showcases known for championing diverse, inclusive voices. The project’s production design was nominated for Best Production Design at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles, acknowledging Ms. Vaidya’s distinctive artistic signature.

Another of her globally acclaimed works, In Foreign, was celebrated for its nuanced depiction of identity and migration with screenings at Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival in LA & London, AFI FEST in Los Angeles and the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XV) in Barbados. Each event underscored her skill in constructing emotionally resonant environments through design rather than dialogue.

In a fast-evolving digital ecosystem, Ms. Vaidya’s art direction for “Taming the Football Bad Boy” on DramaBox earned over 5.6 million views this October, continuing her streak of mastering visual storytelling across formats. Her earlier web projects, including “Billionaire CEO’s Secret Obsession” on ReelShort and “I Became Mrs. Grayson by Bragging”, have collectively surpassed tens of millions of views—showcasing her adaptability in digital-first cinematic spaces.

Ms. Vaidya’s foray into mainstream music brought one of the year’s biggest cultural moments. She served as the production designer for Yo Yo Honey Singh’s “Mafia”, released on September 26, 2025, as part of his album 51 Glorious Days. The video quickly became a viral sensation, crossing 58 million views within three weeks of release. Praised by major media outlets for its moody visual atmosphere and lavish detail, the video’s design and cinematic grit cemented her reputation for translating musical emotion into visually compelling form.

Looking ahead, she was recently appointed as art director for the upcoming music video “Bee Like Me”, produced by Chaotic Neutral Studios. The project explores themes of individuality, imitation and authenticity through surreal, honey-inspired motifs. It marks her latest step into symbolic visual storytelling, merging concept art and realism in ways that blur the boundaries between cinema and contemporary art.

Across continents and formats, Riya Vaidya’s signature lies in her ability to make space a language of feeling. Through festival triumphs, viral successes, and collaborations that span the spectrum of global creative expression, she continues to lead a quiet revolution—proving that Indian design, led by imagination and cultural depth, belongs on every cinematic stage in the world.