“Ambition Can Build Empires or Destroy Lives”: Ankkit Poddar on the World Behind Celestia Pictures’ Upcoming Crime Thriller

Drawing from his roots in eastern India, actor-producer Ankkit Poddar joins lawyer & producer Abhijeet Shukla to explore ambition, power, politics and the complex realities of India’s heartland through Celestia Pictures’ upcoming crime thriller.
Mumbai: What separates a young person who goes on to build an extraordinary life from someone whose ambition leads them down a dangerous path? Is it opportunity, circumstance, the people they encounter, or the choices they make along the way?

For actor-producer Ankkit Poddar, these questions offer a fascinating lens through which to understand the complexities of human ambition, particularly in the culturally rich and politically layered landscapes of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Having grown up in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and subsequently lived and worked across several Indian cities, Poddar & Shukla have developed a particular interest in the aspirations, contradictions and social dynamics of India’s heartland. These perspectives have helped shape the creative thinking behind Celestia Pictures’ upcoming crime thriller, being developed against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

“One thing that has always fascinated me about this part of India is the extraordinary hunger people have to achieve something in life. There is tremendous ambition, resilience and an instinct to rise above one’s circumstances. But ambition is a powerful force. When it finds the right opportunities and direction, it can create remarkable success stories. When it becomes entangled with desperation, unchecked power or the temptation of shortcuts, the consequences can be very different, ” says Poddar.

For the producer, this contrast between aspiration and circumstance offers a compelling foundation for cinematic storytelling.
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand have produced generations of accomplished professionals, entrepreneurs, administrators, artists and individuals who have made their mark far beyond their hometowns. Yet parts of these states have also experienced persistent challenges around employment, industrial development and access to economic opportunities. The contrast raises an intriguing question: What happens when the desire to succeed grows faster than the opportunities available to fulfil it?

“Imagine two young individuals growing up in similar circumstances, with equally strong ambitions. One finds a mentor, an opportunity or an environment that allows that ambition to flourish. The other encounters a world where influence, intimidation or shortcuts appear to offer a faster route to success. Their starting points may be similar, but their journeys can become dramatically different. That contrast interests me as a storyteller, ” Poddar explains. He is equally interested in how power operates beyond conventional definitions of wealth and authority.

“In many smaller towns, power is not always measured by how much money someone has. Sometimes, it is about whom you know, the influence you command, the loyalty you inspire or the reputation you have built. There are layers of social relationships that can make these environments extremely interesting to explore on screen, ” he says.

The political and social landscape of the Hindi heartland adds another dimension to this fascination. Across parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, political influence has historically intersected wit h community identities, local leadership, personal relationships and competing social interests. These dynamics can create environments where power is deeply personal and its influence extends into everyday life.