Manish Malhotra is celebrating a significant milestone as his production, "Bun Tikki," has been selected for the prestigious Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) 2025. This achievement highlights Malhotra's successful transition from the world of fashion to impactful film production. The 16th edition of CSAFF will take place from September 18 to 21, 2025.

"Bun Tikki" is a poignant coming-of-age drama that delves into themes of family, love, and personal identity. Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, the film boasts a stellar cast including Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Abhay Deol, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and newcomer Rohaan Singh. The film captures the confusions, tenderness, and quiet courage of a young child and those around him as they grapple with questions of identity. "Bun Tikki" is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra, Marijke DeSousa, and Manish Malhotra. It also marks the feature film debut for director Faraz Arif Ansari.

Malhotra shared his excitement on social media, expressing pride in Stage5 Production's collaboration with Jio Studios. He also unveiled the film's posters. "Bun Tikki" is part of a curated section at the festival called "From India to the World," which aims to showcase distinct genre films that offer a textured and layered portrait of India.

"Bun Tikki" was selected as the Marquee Film and will be showcased on September 21. Prior to its screening at CSAFF, "Bun Tikki" had its world premiere at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) in California on January 5, 2025. The film follows the journey of seven-year-old Shanu and his single father, Sidhant, as Shanu grapples with self-discovery and Sidhant navigates grief and societal pressures. According to Manish Malhotra, the film carries a strong message about the acceptance of children by their parents. Abhay Deol was drawn to the script's integrity and the empathy it portrays.

In addition to "Bun Tikki", another film produced by Manish Malhotra, "Saali Mohabbat," has also been selected for CSAFF 2025. Directed by Tisca Chopra, "Saali Mohabbat" is a hard-hitting drama addressing domestic violence and emotional betrayal. It has been chosen as the Opening Night film and will be showcased on September 19. The cast includes Radhika Apte, Divyenndu, Sharat Saxena, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sauraseni Maitra, and Anurag Kashyap.

Jio Studios is presenting three films at the festival, including "Ghamasaan" in addition to "Bun Tikki" and "Saali Mohabbat". Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, "Ghamasaan" is a tense rural thriller set in India's heartland. It will be the Centerpiece Film on September 20. The film stars Pratik Gandhi, Arshad Warsi, and Ishita Dutta.

The Chicago South Asian Film Festival is dedicated to promoting diversity through international cinema. The festival will be held at two locations: the Matrix Club in Naperville, IL, and the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, IL.