Mahesh Pailoor is an award-winning Los Angeles–based filmmaker whose work explores South Asian and Indian American identity. Raised in Maine by immigrant parents, his films have screened at SXSW, Cannes Lions, and the Smithsonian. He directed and co-wrote Brahmin Bulls and has helmed episodes of The Blacklist and S.W.A.T. His latest feature, Paper Flowers, is inspired by the viral article “Thank You, Cancer.”

 Paper Flowers is ultimately a film about gratitude. When I first read Shalin Shah’s essay “Thank You, Cancer,” I was struck by his humility and clarity in the face of mortality. This film became an effort to honor that gift—exploring how we choose to live, love, and appreciate our time. Grounded and ensemble-driven, the film reflects both Shalin’s spiritual journey and the lives he profoundly inspired.

Asit Vyas is a Los Angeles–based producer and entrepreneur whose career spans acting, restaurant franchises, and independent filmmaking. A former Burger King and Pizza Hut franchisee, he studied filmmaking at San José State University and produced the Bollywood feature Zara Si Bhool (A Small Mistake), now on Amazon Prime. A UCLA Producers Program graduate, he is currently leading the distribution of his second feature, Paper Flowers.

Shalin Shah, my distant family member, was a 22-year-old whose response to a terminal cancer diagnosis inspired many, including me. Embracing life with love, purpose, and gratitude, he shared messages such as “Thank you, Cancer” and “Sunset for Shalin,” which quickly resonated with people around the world. His perspective transformed how friends, family, and strangers viewed life, and his enduring legacy lives on through the film Paper Flowers.