ARCHIE — Stories Without Borders

Sc. 01Ext. Mumbai / New York — Day

ARCHIE

ArchieTake 1

Author · Actor · Filmmaker

Stories without borders.

A New York Film Academy alumna, she writes the worlds
she wants to explore, creates the characters she wants
to meet, and brings them to life across pages and screens.
Indian at heart. Global in perspective.

Explore her stories →

Sc. 02Int. A writer's room, between two time zones

Archie doesn't just tell stories. She creates worlds.

Trained: New York Film Academy
Bases: Mumbai · New York
Writes in: English · Gujarati
Published: 5 books

Archie's Library

Fiction · 2021

Ambaji Express

Jaggu, Ahmedabad-born and America-raised, takes a pilgrimage to Ambaji, torn between her American boyfriend and her childhood friend.

Amazon ↗Being made into
feature film

Fiction · 2023

Ghoonghat

A young architect goes home to sell her ancestral land and finds a rigged election instead. What begins as paperwork becomes a fight against a ruthless political leader, and against the traditions that protect him.

Amazon ↗Adaptation enquiry →

Self-help · 2022

Grow Like a Wildflower

A reflective walk through life and feeling that asks you to rethink your perspective, embrace who you are, and make yourself the priority.

Amazon ↗

Poetry · Gujarati · 2022

Hu Kem Kahu

A collection of Gujarati poems. The title asks a question every poet knows: how do I say it?

Amazon ↗

← Back to home

Sc. 04Int. The pitch room — For producers & studios

Looking for your next story?

Original stories

Novel

Ghoonghat

Political drama · Novel

Original

Padoshi

Comedy · Family drama

Original

The Incredible
Mr. Patel & Bhuri

Family comedy · Dramedy

Original

Full Family Drama

Hindi–Gujarati feature film

Original

House Arrest

Dark humour · Thriller

Original

Run Richa Run

Political thriller

Original

Love, Lathi & Lakshman Rekha

Village romantic comedy

Original

Office Proposal

Web series · Romance

Treatments, pitch decks and further material are shared privately on request.

Enquire about story rights →

Sc. 05Int. The screening room — Lights down

Films & series

Actor

Kya Chhe Nagaji Ne Goti Lo

2025 · Gujarati · JOJO App

Actor

Ventilator

2018 · Feature film

Writer

You & I

2022 · Hindi web series

Archiegraphy sketches

Sc. 06Int. Casting room — Keep the lights on her

The stories I write. The lives I want to live.

A trained screen actor with work in film and web series.

01 · Headshot

Archie laughing in an ivory sari — 02 · Editorial

Film still, two women look up in shock — 03 · Still

Archie in an ivory sari, studio portrait — 04 · Sari

Archie in a red silk sari on a phone call — 05 · Commercial

06 · Casual

Film still, Archie in a red bridal blouse — 07 · Still · Comedy

Archie in a flowing black veil against a city skyline — 08 · Rooted drama

Height: 5′5″
Languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati
Training: New York Film Academy
Dance: Contemporary and freestyle Bollywood, expert level
Also: Stage combat · Passport ready · Driver's licence
Based: Mumbai and New York

Cast Archie →

← Back to home

Int. Archie's world — The long take

Archie, published as Archana Desai, is an author, actor and filmmaker who works between Mumbai and New York.

After a degree in computer applications at Ahmedabad University, she trained in film at the New York Film Academy. She stayed on in New York as project manager at the New York Indian Film Festival and festival coordinator at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Back in India she worked as associate director on the Gujarati films Bey Yaar and Chello Divas and the Hindi film Dhusar, and as associate and second-unit director on the National Award-winning Wrong Side Raju, produced by Phantom Films.

She has since acted in Ventilator, directed and produced the Gujarati web series Friendzone for ShemarooMe, written the Hindi web series You & I in New York, and created, produced and acted in Kya Chhe Nagaji Ne Goti Lo on the JOJO App. On her YouTube channel, Archiegraphy, she writes and performs comedy sketches, and she hosted the podcast Chalo Vaato Karie.

The journey so far

2013Project manager, New York Indian Film Festival · Festival coordinator, Tribeca Film Festival
2014Associate director, Bey Yaar (Gujarati) and Dhusar (Hindi)
2015Creative writer, Cineman Production
2016Associate director, Chello Divas · Associate & second-unit director, Wrong Side Raju
2018Actor, Ventilator
2019Director & producer, Friendzone (web series)
2021Debut novel, Ambaji Express
2022Writer, You & I (Hindi web series) · Grow Like a Wildflower · Hu Kem Kahu · Host, Chalo Vaato Karie
2023Novel, Ghoonghat · Archiegraphy comedy sketches
2025Creator, producer & actor, Kya Chhe Nagaji Ne Goti Lo
NowWriting the screenplay for the Ambaji Express feature film

On Instagram

@archiegraphy · Follow ↗

Instagram post: Things I learned as a film student

Instagram post: Archie behind a film camera

Instagram post: Archie on sound duty in film school

Instagram post: Archie in Times Square, New York

← Back to home

Int. Archie's Library — Every book on the shelf

Archie's library

Fiction · 2021
Ambaji Express

Jaggu, Ahmedabad-born and America-raised, takes a pilgrimage to Ambaji, torn between her American boyfriend and her childhood friend.

RomanceSpiritualAdventureBeing made into a feature film
Find it on Amazon ↗
Fiction · 2023
Ghoonghat

A young architect goes home to sell her ancestral land and finds a rigged election instead, and a ruthless political leader to face.

Drama
Find it on Amazon ↗
Self-help · 2022
Grow Like a Wildflower

A reflective walk through life and feeling that asks you to rethink your perspective, embrace who you are, and make yourself the priority.

Self-helpSpiritual
Find it on Amazon ↗
Poetry · Gujarati · 2022
Hu Kem Kahu

A collection of Gujarati poems. The title asks a question every poet knows: how do I say it?

Find it on Amazon ↗

Sc. 07Int. Your office — Make the call

Collaborate with Archie.

01 · Casting

Archie doesn't just tell stories. She creates worlds.