Dr. Shabana Parvez, MD, FACEP, US Bureau Chief of The Desi Buzz and founder of ArlingtonIntegrative.com, sat down for an exclusive and insightful conversation with Anika Fairooz Chowdhury — British Bangladeshi artist and Junior Prop Modeller at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
They discussed her inspiring journey from Birmingham to the world of film and design, tracing how her early love for art, her South Asian heritage, and her creative imagination led her from Interior Architecture to prop making at one of the world’s most iconic studios.
Glowborne is extremely limited, with only 71 rewards available. Of these, just 7 Crowned Edition sets will include the complete light-up board and collector’s box. Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/craftedbyanika/glowborne-the-glow-in-the-dark-fantasy-chess-set
Anika also shared behind-the-scenes insights from her time at the National Film & Television School (NFTS), her award-winning student projects, and her experience crafting hand props for major film productions.
The conversation delved into her acclaimed creation, the Glowborne Chess Set — a stunning reimagining of the traditional game featuring South Asian, African, and Middle Eastern representation — and explored her passion for blending storytelling, culture, and craftsmanship.
This episode of The Desi Buzz Talk Show highlights Anika’s creative journey, her thoughts on representation in film, and her message to aspiring young artists: “Find what you’re good at and just do it for yourself, because no one will do it for you.”
Background & Early Inspiration
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Anika, let’s start with your story — where did you grow up, and what first sparked your love for art and design?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: I was born and raised in Birmingham in the UK, and looking back there were many signs that I was drawn to the arts. I loved making characters and shapes with Play Dough from a very young age, colouring books, drawing, painting. But I didn’t know this could be my career so I just saw it as fun.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Were there early influences — family, culture, or even childhood hobbies — that pushed you toward a creative career?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: My mum is quite crafty, growing up she did mehendi designs, food art (taals for weddings), and sewing, so I was surrounded by that. Also for the first 7 years of my life I was an only child (before my siblings were born) so I was lonely and had to get creative – I made up stories with my toys and imaginary friends to keep busy and I think this is where I developed a strong imagination and storytelling skills.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Looking back, was there a “first project” or moment when you realized, this is what I want to do for life?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: I enjoyed the model making aspect of my Interior Architecture degree the most and knew I wanted to focus on just the hand-making aspect of things rather than be sitting behind a computer.
Career & Creative Journey
Dr. Shabana Parvez: You’ve had such a dynamic journey from interior architecture to prop making — can you share how this creative path unfolded for you?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: At the time I thought Interior Architecture is what I wanted to do, but I soon realised it was very computer heavy with 3D modelling and CAD drawings, and I preferred the hand-making aspect of it the most, like making dioramas and models. I got employed right after uni though after winning multiple awards for my final major project, so I ended up going down the 9-5 office design job route until I had enough of being sat in front of a computer and I applied to the NFTS Model Making post-grad course, got a scholarship for it, and my life changed from there.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: You trained at the prestigious National Film & Television School. What was the most valuable lesson you took from that experience?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: I had amazing training at the NFTS Model Making/Prop Making course and I knew that I had found my true calling. The most valuable experience was seeing how the collaborative film process worked with directors, producers, model makers, composers. It opened my eyes to how it all works in film and tv and I got lots of contacts from there.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Working at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden must be a dream for many creatives. What has your experience been like as a Junior Props Modeller there?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Absolutely amazing! I’m lucky to have very nice bosses and colleagues and I’ve been lucky to be assigned more sculpting / painting jobs recently with more responsibility which has been fun. Warner Bros. Leavesden studio itself is absolutely massive and it’s very exciting to see the film sets as they unfold.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Could you walk us through what a typical day looks like for you when working on props for film or TV productions?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Every day is different, no day is the same. The hours are very long from 7:30am to 5:30pm. I work in the hand-props department (so anything the actors hold or interact with). This could include sculpting the prop following a design from the art department team, sanding a prop so it’s ready for paint, or ageing a weapon, and so many more endless and random tasks like putting sugar on fake food.
Creative Process & Craft
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Prop making often requires blending artistry with technical precision. What’s your creative process when starting on a new piece?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Inspiration > design > sculpt > mould > cast > painting & finishing > feedback to incorporate in future projects
Dr. Shabana Parvez: From puppets to set dressing, you’ve handled a wide range of materials and techniques. Which medium or technique excites you the most right now?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Anything involving colour / the artistic finishing of props! Painting, aging, textiles etc.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: How do you balance functionality versus aesthetics when designing and making props?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Depends on the prop. If it’s something that will be handled a lot it has to be made strong and durable, if it’s going to be in the background of a set with little camera time then functionality is not as important.
Glowborne Chess Set
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Your artisan chess set, Glowborne, is such a fascinating project, bringing in South Asian, African, and Middle Eastern characters. What inspired you to reimagine the traditional chessboard this way?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: I saw someone sculpting chess pieces for a job I’m currently working on and I thought – I can do that! When it came to designing the characters I realised I could make them however I want, and so I designed an ethnically diverse cast. As I looked more into the history of chess I tied that in with the character design as chess originated in India and Bangladesh was once part of India.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: How has your cultural background influenced the design and storytelling embedded in your chess set?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: I wanted the characters to have features that aren’t typically seen in high fantasy, like bindis and turbans and saris.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: What has been the reaction from both traditional chess lovers and those seeing representation in Glowborne for the first time?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Traditional chess players like the glow-in-the-dark feature as it’s something they haven’t seen before in chess sets, and others like the story and craft behind the set and its characters.
Fun & Personality
Dr. Shabana Parvez: If you could design a prop for any fantasy world — say Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Game of Thrones — what would it be?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: I’d choose Lord of the Rings, because it’s such high fantasy, yet it doesn’t have any South Asian representation at all.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: You work with puppets and props — do you secretly give them names and personalities when no one’s watching?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: No actually! I talk and sing to myself all the time though when no one’s watching.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: What’s the quirkiest or funniest prop you’ve ever made?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Rotten banana peel for a stop-motion animation street set.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: If Glowborne came to life like a movie, who would you cast as the King and Queen?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: The Bengali king would be my dad, and the black queen would be Viola Davis as she’s my favourite actress.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Quick-fire round: favorite tool in the workshop, favorite snack during long studio hours, and your guilty-pleasure TV show?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Digital calliper, Nakd breakfast bars, and Selling Sunset.
Identity & Industry
Dr. Shabana Parvez: As a British Bangladeshi woman in the film and creative industries, what challenges and opportunities have you encountered?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Most people treat me fairly and equally. In my first job though I was paid less than my colleagues who’d been to the same NFTS Model Making course as me who’d graduated and started the job at the same time, but for some reason I wasn’t paid the same until I asked the boss for equal pay. I also think people underestimate me because I look much younger than I actually am (I’m 28 but look <20 without makeup)
Dr. Shabana Parvez: How important is representation — both behind the scenes in prop making and in front of the camera — to shaping authentic storytelling?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: The right people need to be behind/in front of the camera for the story to be authentic and believable, otherwise viewers will notice the inaccuracies straight away.
Dr. Shabana Parvez: What advice would you give to young South Asians or underrepresented creatives who dream of working in film design and prop making?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: If it’s what you really enjoy then you should go for it! It’s better to pursue what you really want than have regrets later in life. It’s a bit of an unstable life though being a freelancer in film but once you gain contacts you can be employed consistently.
Concluding Question
Dr. Shabana Parvez: Finally, Anika, what’s your message to our viewers and readers — especially those who want to follow their passions, even if the path looks unconventional?
Anika Fairooz Chowdhury: Find what you’re good at and just do it for yourself because no one will do it for you. And don’t just be good, be the best.
