Deepa Bhatia
Deepa Bhatia is a Mumbai-based, award-winning film
editor, documentary director and producer.
After completing a media studies course at Sophia Polytechnic, Deepa Bhatia began her professional career as an assistant director to Govind Nihalani.
This early experience gave her a solid foundation in film craft, which got fortified, editing Nihalani’s films, including Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa, Dev and Deham.
Her precision and storytelling ability quickly made her one of the most sought-after editors in the industry. She went on to collaborate with a diverse and exciting range of filmmakers, including Ashim Ahluwalia, Jahnu Barua, Karan Johar, Abhishek Kapoor, James Erskine, Mozez Singh, Rahul Dholakia and her partner Amole Gupte. She expanded her creative horizons to producing features and directing documentaries films and series.
Her first documentary Nero’s Guests, reported on the agrarian crisis as seen through the eyes of rural journalist, P. Sainath and won several Indian and International awards. She has recently produced, directed and written First Act, a six-part documentary series on child actors, currently airing on Prime Video, for which she was selected as part of the BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort, 2025.
She collaborates closely with her partner, Amole Gupte, and together they run two production companies that create features, commercials, series, and films focused on the social sector. Deepa has won several awards for her editing work as well as awards for the projects she has produced and directed.
Featured Projects
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Awards
FIPRESCI Critics Award, Mumbai International Film Festival, Mumbai, 2010 (for Nero’s Guests
Jury, Special Mention, Mumbai International Film Festival, Mumbai, 2010 (for Nero’s Guests)
Best Documentary, Cinestrat, Spain, 2010 (for Nero’s Guests)
Silver, Audience Award, Amnesty Film Festival, Vancouver, 2010 (for Nero’s Guests)
Gold Medal for Best Documentary, IDPA, Mumbai/India, 2010 (for Nero’s Guests)
Best Documentary, John Abraham National Award, SIGNS, Kerala/India, 2011 (for Nero’s Guests)
Jury, Special Mention, IFFLA, LA (for Nero’s Guests)
Best Documentary, Indian Film Festival, London (for Nero’s Guests)
Best Editing, Screen Award for Kai Po Che & Rock On!!! (for Kai Po Che & Rock On!!!)
National Award, Best Child Actor, 2012 (for Stanley Ka Dabba)
Best Actor, Schlingel Film Festival, Germany, 2011 (for Stanley Ka Dabba)
ActionAid Award, Giffoni International Film Festival, Italy, 2011 (for Stanley Ka Dabba)
Best Film, Schlingel Film Festival, Germany, 2014 (for Hawaa Hawaai)
Awards
N e r o ’ s G u e s t s
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FIPRESCI Critics Award – Mumbai International Film Festival, 2010
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Jury, Special Mention – Mumbai International Film Festival, 2010
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Best Documentary – Cinestrat, Spain, 2010
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Silver, Audience Award – Amnesty Film Festival, Vancouver, 2010
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Gold Medal for Best Documentary – IDPA, Mumbai/India, 2010
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Best Documentary – John Abraham National Award, SIGNS, Kerala/India, 2011
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Jury, Special Mention – IFFLA, Los Angeles
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Best Documentary – Indian Film Festival, London
S t a n l e y K a D a b b a
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National Award – Best Child Actor, 2012
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Best Actor – Schlingel Film Festival, Germany, 2011
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ActionAid Award – Giffoni International Film Festival, Italy, 2011
H a w a a H a w a a i
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Best Film – Schlingel Film Festival, Germany, 2014
F e a t u r e F i l m s
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Best Editing – Screen Award for Kai Po Che
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Best Editing – Screen Award for Rock On!!!
Screenings
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IDFA, Amsterdam, 2009
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Lens Politica, Finland, 2010
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Human Rights Watch, London, 2010
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Tri-Continental Film Festival, South Africa, 2010
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One World Film Festival, Canada, 2010
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Documentarist, Istanbul, 2010
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Movies That Matter, Amsterdam, 2011
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Take One Action, Edinburgh, 2010
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Planete Doc, Warsaw, 2010
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Human Rights Watch, New York, 2010
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Documenta Madrid, Madrid, 2010
Latest Press Releases
