IFFAM 2019: Bollywood star Bhumi Pednekar here as part of Variety Asian Stars, Up Next… (Juliette Binoche pictures from yesterday)

Macao 10.45am (UK 2.45am)

ONE OF BOLLYWOOD’S sensational breakthrough actors – Bhumi Pednekar – comes to the International Film Festival and Awards Macao (IFFAm) today as a Variety Asian Stars, Up Next initiative in association with the fest itself.

The actor – who really broke through in a role with Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar in ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ (2017) and spoke to us about it in London when the stars did publicity for the film ahead of India – has been selected as Variety – one of Hollywood’s best-known trade titles – group of young actors shaping the entertainment industry in Asia.

Pednekar’s appearance in Netflix’s ‘Lust Stories’ has added to her considerable lustre – showing she can do offbeat and more risky titles as well as mainstream Bollywood films.

Tune into see Pednekar later (from about 9.30am Indian Standard Time/4am UK time) and other stars chosen by Variety and on an upward curve in their careers: Ryota-Katayose (Japan), Praewa Suthampong (Thailand), Lim Yoona-A (South Korea), Lien Binh Phat (Vietnam), Asmara Abigail (Indonesia), Bea Alonzo (Philippines), Jennis Oprasert (Thailand).

Last year, Zaira Wasim who starred alongside Priyanka Chopra in ‘The Sky is Pink’ was among the US title’s Asian Stars: Up Next. She spoke to acv about working with Chopra and another Bollywood icon, Aamir Khan. She has since announced her ‘retirement’ from making films, believing them to be incompatible with her faith.

Join us on social media for coverage of Variety’s Asian Stars: Up Next today from Macao.

Yesterday (December 9), Juliette Binoche appeared in an In Conversation session with Mike Goodridge, IFFAM director and Chinese director Diao Yinan.

She also presented her film ‘The Truth’ made by celebrated Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda (sometimes referred to as just Kore-eda or Kore-eda Hirokazu)…

See pictures below…