Dar Gai
- Purpose Studios
- Apr 14, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 6
Based in Mumbai
Dar Gai is a Director, Writer, and Co-Founder of Jugaad Motion Pictures, a Mumbai-based production house.
Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she is an alumna of the Berlinale Talents Program and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Film and Theatre.
Dar began her creative journey in theatre, acting in over 15 plays and directing numerous stage and street performances. She first came to India to direct a play for the Scindia School’s Founder’s Day in Gwalior and later taught screenwriting and film appreciation at Whistling Woods International in Mumbai.
Known for her lyrical storytelling and distinct visual style, Dar continues to bridge fine art sensibilities with mainstream narratives across film, advertising, and music videos.
In advertising, Dar has directed and produced campaigns for Netflix, Center Fresh, Stayfree, Bacardi, Xiaomi, Volkswagen, Adidas, Vaseline, and more.
Some of her most notable work includes Dum Laga Ke India for Jio Cinema and the Paris Olympics 2024, Stayfree’s - It’s Just a Period campaign for World Menstrual Hygiene Day, The Money Heist Fan Anthem ft. Anil Kapoor, Rana Daggubati, Vikrant Massey and Shruti Haasan, Adidas’ India Cricket World Cup campaign 3 Ka Dream, and Netflix’s Sorry, among others.
Her debut feature film, Teen Aur Aadha, traveled to more than 40 international film festivals and won 18 awards. Her second film, Namdev Bhau in Search of Silence, premiered at the Busan International Film Festival, screened at the BFI London Film Festival, MAMI (India premiere), Dharamshala International Film Festival (Opening Film), Palm Springs International Film Festival, Göteborg International Film Festival, and several others.
She is also known for her music videos, including Prateek Kuhad’s “cold/mess” (featured on President Obama’s end-of-year playlist and named Music Video of the Year by Rolling Stone), Ritviz’s “Liggi”, and videos for Sage and Gehraiyaan.
Her portfolio further extends to large-scale international campaigns for Netflix, Levi’s, Apple, and other global brands. She also served as a producer on Last Film Show (Chhello Show), India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Best International Feature category.
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