Devyani tells the story of a father’s fears for his daughter in a society where women’s safety remains a pressing concern. The film, now streaming on ZEE5, marks the acting debut of Ashwani Kumar, a 2010-batch IAS officer currently serving as Secretary of Assam’s Information Technology Department. Kumar steps away from his government office to appear on screen, not for fame, but to spark conversations about women’s dignity and empowerment.
For most of his career, Kumar has worked on policies and administrative reforms. Now he is trying a different approach – storytelling. He believes cinema can reach people on a personal level, something that government programmes sometimes fail to do.
“Government can build institutions, create programmes, and change rules, but how do you change deep-seated societal attitudes?” Kumar said. “Not every change begins with a policy. Some changes begin with a story. If cinema can make even one family think differently about daughters and women’s strength, the effort will have been worthwhile.”
What ‘Devyani’ is About
Devyani explores the relationship between a father and his daughter. The story follows a police officer who becomes worried when he learns his wife is expecting a daughter. He does not dislike having a girl child. Instead, he fears the challenges she will face in society – safety concerns, dowry demands, and other struggles that women often encounter.
The film uses this family setting to address bigger questions about women’s safety, dignity, and empowerment. It challenges traditional views on women’s roles in Indian households. The story aims to move the conversation beyond just awareness and towards empathy.
“If the film makes even one family think differently about the way we look at daughters and women’s strength, I would consider the effort worthwhile,” Kumar said.
Kumar’s Shift from Administration to Acting
Ashwani Kumar is a 2010-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. He currently serves as Secretary of Assam’s Information Technology Department and Director of DITEC. His move to acting is not a departure from public service. He sees it as an extension of his commitment to social welfare.
Kumar believes his years in public administration have given him a deep understanding of people and society. He thinks this understanding helps him as an actor. He is also a writer and has interests in storytelling. For him, cinema is another way to create positive social impact.
“The medium is different. The mission remains service,” he said.
Film Release and Streaming Details
Devyani premiered on August 5, 2026 on the OTT platform ZEE5. The film is available for free as part of ZEE5’s Free5 offering. Viewers in India, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and other global regions can stream it on the platform.
The film is written and directed by Ashish K Panda. It features Ashwani Kumar and Archana Gautam in leading roles. The promotional poster shows both actors dressed as police officers holding guns. This hints that crime and investigation play an important part in the story.
Devyani is produced by Gautam Motion Picture and Aaroha Production.
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A Different Kind of Social Impact
For Kumar, the film is a way to address issues that policies alone cannot fix. He believes stories can influence individuals and families at a personal level. This is where cinema has an advantage over traditional awareness campaigns.
In Devyani, Kumar plays a character that connects with themes he has dealt with throughout his administrative career – empathy, dignity, and empowerment. His experience in government has shown him that changing rules is not enough. Changing attitudes is just as important.
Kumar has urged audiences to watch Devyani with an open mind, especially regarding how society treats daughters and women.
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