For Aditya Gupta, a filmmaker from South Delhi, journey into cinema began long before he decided to pursue it professionally. During summer vacations, he would accompany his grandmother to film festivals, watching films that introduced him to different stories, cultures and ways of seeing the world. Those experiences stayed with him, although filmmaking was not initially his career choice.
Gupta had pursued a different professional path and was doing well in his field, but he found that the work did not give him the creative satisfaction he was looking for. The COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point, giving him time to reconsider what he wanted to do with his life. He eventually decided to pursue filmmaking and moved to the United States to study Film and Television at Howard University in Washington D.C.
What began as career change developed into professional opportunities in American film and television production. One of Gupta’s significant achievements came through Coca-Cola Refreshing Films programme, where he produced The Usual, commercial directed by Avery Harrell.
The project was selected as one of three national finalists from more than 450 submissions representing 65 film schools across United States. As producer, Gupta was responsible for coordinating a production team of approximately 75 people and ensuring that different departments worked toward same creative vision.
The production took place at AMC Georgetown in Washington DC, where the team faced the logistical demands of filming inside a cinema. A thunderstorm added further complications, requiring the production team to adapt while keeping the project on schedule.
Despite challenges, team completed commercial, which went on to receive theatrical exhibition as part of the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films campaign. According to campaign information provided by Gupta, The Usual was one of three branded spots in a 2026 campaign reported to have reached more than 32 million people collectively. The figure relates to wider campaign, rather than individual commercial.
The project also brought Gupta opportunities to participate in major film industry events, including CinemaCon in Las Vegas and the Bentonville Film Festival, where he appeared as a panellist. For Gupta, these experiences provided opportunities to meet filmmakers and industry professionals, exchange ideas and gain a better understanding of the American entertainment industry.
Beyond commercial filmmaking, Gupta has worked on documentary and film productions across Washington, D.C., Maryland and New York. His experience includes cinematography, camera operation, editing and production work. During his time at Howard University, he received the MFA Exemplar Award and the Alonzo Crawford MFA Film Founders Award for Cinematography.
After completing his Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television in 2026, Gupta joined Howard University as an adjunct faculty member, teaching film production while continuing his professional filmmaking career. Looking ahead, he hopes to produce more films, particularly documentaries that address real issues and celebrate people’s lives.
For filmmaker from South Delhi, the transition from an entirely different career to American cinema has been shaped by years of learning, collaboration and childhood interest in films that first developed during summers spent with his grandmother.