Meet Raja Roy Diyach Thebo

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raja Roy Diyach Thebo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Raja Roy Diyach, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

I wasn’t always a great communicator. I was the quiet kid, shy, anxious, always trying to blend into the background. Talking to someone new felt like skydiving without a parachute. But life kept pushing me out of my comfort zone. I changed schools, moved to a different city, and eventually left home to study film and television in a different part of Pakistan. Each move meant meeting new people and starting fresh, again and again.

I remember hearing this line in a movie once, something like: “The moment you step forward, you’ve already done 50% of the work.” That really stayed with me. I started applying it in real life: in class, at work, and even in everyday moments, such as introducing myself or asking a question. Just raising my hand or saying hello was the scariest part, but once I did, the rest usually came easily.

As a filmmaker, especially as a director, communication is everything. You’re leading a team, sharing a vision, and making people feel heard and understood. Over time, I’ve learned that effective communication isn’t about having perfect words. It’s about having the courage to speak up, listen with intention, and be honest. That’s where real connection begins.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a filmmaker from Sindh, Pakistan, now living in Los Angeles, where I completed my MFA in Film and Television Production at Loyola Marymount University. My work combines raw honesty, emotional depth, and a touch of dark humor. I love telling stories from the margins, whether literal or emotional, and I’m passionate about exploring themes like identity, loyalty, ambition, and the beautiful struggles of failure.

Before coming to LA, I ran my own production company in Pakistan for six years. I worked on a range of projects, from commercials and music videos to short documentaries, which taught me to be resourceful, resilient, and collaborative. I’ve learned that making great work comes from the heart, not just the budget.

Currently, I focus on sharing stories that reflect my cultural and emotional roots while exploring new visual and genre landscapes. My newest short film, *Kuttay Ki Dum* (Crooked Tail), is an action-comedy about a determined Pakistani immigrant navigating LA’s criminal underworld. It’s gritty, energetic, fast-paced, and surprisingly heartfelt, much like life itself. I’ve just finished post-production and am excited to start the festival circuit.

What excites me most is the idea that stories can connect with others, even if their lives are very different from ours. That magical moment when someone watches your work and says, “I’ve felt that,” is truly special.

In the long term, I aspire to continue making films that are both deeply personal and visually stunning. I’m also developing a feature that combines Sindhi folklore with cosmic horror, something I’ve long dreamed about. It’s spooky, surreal, and rooted in grief and longing, pretty much how I see filmmaking itself.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Honestly, a few key elements have significantly helped me along the way.

First, staying current. I consistently make an effort to keep up-to-date with the latest filmmaking techniques, not just by reading about them, but by actively applying them in my daily work. This practical approach is the most effective way to learn, as it allows you to adapt and integrate new skills into your workflow, shaping how you perceive and approach tasks. So, my advice? Don’t learn just for the sake of it; try, use, and let it become part of your process.

Second, reaching out. Connecting with others has profoundly impacted my journey. You’d be amazed how helpful people can be, often offering great advice unexpectedly. Sometimes, all it takes is saying hi. Whether you’re new somewhere or trying to break into a new field, talk to people. You never know what support or friendships are waiting for you on the other side of that first conversation.

And third, master one thing. While it’s natural to want to do everything, focusing intensely on one craft that resonates with you can be more beneficial. For me, that’s color, using visuals to evoke emotion and shape the mood of a scene based solely on its look. Specializing in one area makes you stand out. When people recognize your strengths, they come to you for them, helping you achieve clarity and recognition.

Throughout all this, collaboration is vital. You’ll learn much faster when you’re not working alone. Sharing experiences allows you to benefit from others’ mistakes and strengths. Filmmaking is inherently collaborative, and the more you engage with others, the more you understand your voice and its contribution to the bigger picture.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Currently, my biggest challenge is finding the emotional and practical space to share the stories I want to tell, especially those from Pakistan.

I recently completed my MFA in Film and Television Production. Like many emerging filmmakers, I’m navigating the challenging transition into the industry, particularly in a time when everything moves quickly and expectations are high. You have to stay employed, pay bills, and show up constantly, and all of that makes it hard to find time and energy for the stories that matter most to you.

My ultimate goal is to create films rooted in my background stories that reflect the complexity, beauty, and contradictions of Pakistan. But making room for that kind of work in a world that often prioritizes speed, content, and marketability over depth and risk? That’s a real challenge.

Still, I’m working toward that goal every day, slowly but intentionally. I’m currently writing a feature film set in Pakistan; it’s a deeply personal story that draws from my culture and background, and one I believe in completely. Once the script is ready, I plan to start developing it.

It’s not easy. There are days when it feels like the world isn’t built to support this kind of long-term creative process, especially for someone trying to bridge two very different cultural and cinematic landscapes. But I believe in the power of storytelling, and I know that sometimes the most meaningful work takes the longest to build. You stumble, you get stuck, but you don’t stop. That’s what I’m holding onto.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Josefine De Vera, Evan Odinsoff

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