A longtime sex advice columnist gains popularity against the backdrop of a ban on comprehensive sex-education in schools in several Indian states.
Ask the Sexpert is a feature length documentary about Dr. Mahinder Watsa, a highly popular 93-year-old sex advice columnist for a daily newspaper in Mumbai. Despite sex being a taboo topic in India, the column’s brand of non-moralistic advice and humor has emboldened many to write in with their questions. The columnist gains popularity even while a ban on comprehensive sex education in schools is adopted by approximately a third of India’s states.
Director/producer of award-winning feature documentaries Made in India (PBS, Amazon Prime, Kanopy) and Ask the Sexpert (PBS, Netflix India, Amazon Prime). Currently developing third feature doc in co-production with Sandbox Films.
Grantee of MacArthur Foundation, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Firelight Media, Tribeca Gucci Fund, CAAM, Playboy Foundation, Fledgling Fund, Nextpix etc. Pitched at CPH:FORUM, Hot Docs Forum Dealmaker, and Gotham Film Week (Spotlight on Documentaries).
Received fellowships at Bellagio Residency Program, Firelight Media DocLab, Flaherty Seminar, Working Films.
Co founder of Bitchitra Collective: Indian Women in Documentary Film.
Vaishali's films and projects present deeply researched and engaging character driven stories with the potential for raising questions and creating dialogue.
Best Documentary - New Orleans Film Festival
Best of Fests - IDFA
Best Entertaining Film Nominee - Grierson Awards
Best Documentary - Jeevika Film Festival, India
Best Documentary - Critics Choice Award, India (Bollywood Powerbrands)
Director/Producer - Vaishali Sinha
Producer - Mridu Chandra
Executive Producer - Sally Jo Fifer
Editors- Myles Kane & Ashish Ravinran
