“Ambition Can Build Empires or Destroy Lives”: Ankkit Poddar on the World Behind Celestia Pictures’ Upcoming Crime Thriller

Drawing from his roots in eastern India, actor-producer Ankkit Poddar joins lawyer &
producer Abhijeet Shukla to explore ambition, power, politics and the complex realities of
India’s heartland through Celestia Pictures’ upcoming crime thriller.
Mumbai: What separates a young person who goes on to build an extraordinary life from
someone whose ambition leads them down a dangerous path? Is it opportunity,
circumstance, the people they encounter, or the choices they make along the way?
For actor-producer Ankkit Poddar, these questions offer a fascinating lens through which to
understand the complexities of human ambition, particularly in the culturally rich and
politically layered landscapes of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Having grown up in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and subsequently lived and worked across several
Indian cities, Poddar & Shukla have developed a particular interest in the aspirations,
contradictions and social dynamics of India’s heartland. These perspectives have helped
shape the creative thinking behind Celestia Pictures’ upcoming crime thriller, being
developed against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
“One thing that has always fascinated me about this part of India is the extraordinary
hunger people have to achieve something in life. There is tremendous ambition,
resilience and an instinct to rise above one’s circumstances. But ambition is a
powerful force. When it finds the right opportunities and direction, it can create
remarkable success stories. When it becomes entangled with desperation, unchecked
power or the temptation of shortcuts, the consequences can be very different,
” says
Poddar.
For the producer, this contrast between aspiration and circumstance offers a compelling
foundation for cinematic storytelling.
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand have produced generations of accomplished
professionals, entrepreneurs, administrators, artists and individuals who have made their
mark far beyond their hometowns. Yet parts of these states have also experienced persistent
challenges around employment, industrial development and access to economic
opportunities.
The contrast raises an intriguing question: What happens when the desire to succeed grows
faster than the opportunities available to fulfil it?
“Imagine two young individuals growing up in similar circumstances, with equally strong
ambitions. One finds a mentor, an opportunity or an environment that allows that ambition to
flourish. The other encounters a world where influence, intimidation or shortcuts appear to
offer a faster route to success. Their starting points may be similar, but their journeys can
become dramatically different. That contrast interests me as a storyteller,
” Poddar explains.
He is equally interested in how power operates beyond conventional definitions of wealth
and authority.
“In many smaller towns, power is not always measured by how much money someone has.
Sometimes, it is about whom you know, the influence you command, the loyalty you inspire
or the reputation you have built. There are layers of social relationships that can make these
environments extremely interesting to explore on screen,
” he says.
The political and social landscape of the Hindi heartland adds another dimension to this
fascination.
Across parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, political influence has historically intersected with
community identities, local leadership, personal relationships and competing social interests.
These dynamics can create environments where power is deeply personal and its influence
extends into everyday life.
“Politics in these regions has its own fascinating character. It is not always confined
to elections or political offices. Local leadership, social identity, personal loyalties and
influence can become deeply intertwined. Sometimes, the most powerful person in a
particular environment may not even hold an official position. Understanding these
relationships gives you an entirely different perspective on how power works,
” Poddar
observes.
At the same time, he believes it would be simplistic to define these regions only through their
political complexities or histories of crime.
“There is a tendency to look at Bihar or eastern Uttar Pradesh through a very narrow lens.
But these are also places of extraordinary intelligence, ambition, cultural richness and
human resilience. The same society can produce remarkable success stories and deeply
complicated human conflicts. For me, that contrast is far more interesting than any
stereotype,
” he adds.
For Celestia Pictures, founded by Ankkit Poddar and Abhijeet Shukla, the decision to explore
the crime thriller genre comes from a desire to examine human behaviour through an
engaging cinematic format.
While the producers remain guarded about the film’s storyline, they acknowledge that
themes of youth, ambition, power and individual choices have influenced their broader
creative perspective.
“Crime thrillers offer an extraordinary opportunity to explore human psychology. Behind
every major conflict, there are individuals driven by something — ambition, fear, loyalty,
greed, love or the desire for respect. What fascinates me is not simply what people do, but
what brings them to a point where they make certain choices,
” says Poddar.
He also reflects on the complicated relationship between economic aspiration and the
pursuit of power.
“When legitimate opportunities appear limited, the promise of quick money or influence can
become tempting for some. Whether it is the attraction of easy wealth, the desire to
command respect or the temptation to exercise control over others, these are powerful
human motivations. But there is always a price attached to the choices people make. That is
what makes such conflicts compelling from a storytelling perspective.
”
For Poddar and Shukla, however, the objective is not to romanticise crime or portray an
entire region through violence and lawlessness. Instead, their interest lies in the individuals,
relationships and circumstances that create compelling dramatic possibilities.
“We don’t want to glorify crime. We want to understand the human emotions and
circumstances that make certain stories possible. A powerful thriller should entertain
audiences, but it should also make them question what they believe about ambition,
success, morality and power,
” Poddar says.
The producers are also conscious of the importance of regional authenticity. With the project
currently in pre-production, the team is exploring locations across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,
paying attention to the distinctive environments, cultural nuances and visual character of the
regions.
For Celestia Pictures, the film represents another step towards establishing a production
identity built around compelling scripts, strong characters and stories that combine
commercial entertainment with emotional depth.
Coming from professional backgrounds outside the conventional film industry, Poddar and
Shukla believe their varied experiences allow them to approach filmmaking with a
combination of creative curiosity, independent thinking and disciplined execution.
“Abhijeet and I have always believed that cinema should be entertaining first, but it becomes
truly memorable when there is something meaningful beneath the entertainment. We are
drawn to stories that have multiple layers, where characters are not simply good or bad, and
where the audience is constantly discovering something new,
” says Poddar.
Although the title, storyline and casting details remain under wraps, the makers intend to
reveal further information as the project moves ahead.
For Poddar, the larger fascination ultimately comes back to one fundamental idea.
“The difference between a person who changes the world and someone who loses
their way can sometimes begin with a single decision. Ambition gives people the
courage to dream beyond their circumstances, but the direction they choose can
change everything. That is what makes human stories so extraordinary.
”
With its upcoming untitled crime thriller, Celestia Pictures is preparing to explore a world
where ambition meets circumstance, power influences choices, and the line between
success and destruction can be far more complicated than it appears