After the success of “First Copy Season 2,” Salt Media Entertainment, the film production division of the RVCJ Group, is set to premiere its latest project, “Bacha Bareesh, Shadows of Innocence,” an emotionally charged documentary directed by Najia Khaan. The film will be screened on November 13, 2025, at the 11th Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Najia Khaan, an Afghan-born, London-raised filmmaker, serves as both Director and Producer. Known for her cross-cultural storytelling, she has a record of films exploring resilience, identity, and the human spirit. Through “Shadows of Innocence,” Khaan presents a story highlighting the challenges faced by Afghan boys who have been deprived of childhood, freedom, and dreams.
The film captures Najia’s return to Afghanistan, confronting silence, trauma, and memory. The screening is significant as Najia Khaan also serves as a jury member at the Asian World Film Festival, representing South Asian voices in global cinema, according to media reports. Salt Media Entertainment, a Mumbai-based subsidiary of the RVCJ Group, is behind the film. The studio is dedicated to creating story-driven cinema and has been known for originals like “First Copy Season 2,” continuing to deliver narratives that resonate across audiences and cultures.
“This film is not just a documentary, it’s my reckoning,” Najia shared. “As a woman, a filmmaker, and someone who still calls Afghanistan home, I felt a moral duty to tell these stories. These boys are not faceless victims; they are futures stolen too soon.”
“We’re in Los Angeles and super excited to be part of this incredible world talent pool. It’s a proud moment to represent Salt Media Entertainment, an India-based production house, with a film that gives voice to the children of Afghanistan,” said Firdaus Sayed, Partner, Producer from Salt Media Entertainment.
