Apurva Bardapurkar is an independent writer-director from Aurangabad, India, whose love for storytelling began in childhood, inspired by legends and folktales. In college, she went on to direct and lead an all-girls team to win prestigious theatre competitions. She later graduated from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, after which she worked with Paani Foundation, an organization run for farmers, gaining the opportunity to interact with people on the ground. Her directorial debut, the Marathi-language short film Maaybaapache Aashirwaad (Blessings), which she also wrote, follows overprotective parents who must guard a family secret when their son's inquisitive girlfriend arrives — blending dark comedy with an unsettling examination of parental obsession. The film was an official selection at prestigious festivals including Tasveer, IFFSA Toronto, CSAFF, and iSAFF, and was selected at the Cinvesture Film Market to be developed into a feature. At the Critics' Choice Awards 2026, Maaybaapache Aashirwaad (Blessings) led the short film category with three wins — Best Film, Best Director, and Best Writing — establishing Bardapurkar as one of the most promising new voices in Indian independent cinema.