Latest news with #SlumdogMillionaire
NDTV
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Freida Pinto To Lead Netflix Series Based On Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth
Los Angeles: Indian actor Freida Pinto is set to headline Unaccustomed Earth, a series adaptation of author Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collection of the same title. The project was announced by streaming service Netflix in April and will feature eight episodes, according to entertainment news outlet Variety. Pinto, known for starring in critically-acclaimed and award-winning movies such as Slumdog Millionaire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and Love Sonia, will essay the role of Parul Chaudhury. Unaccustomed Earth is described as an "epic, soapy, and culturally vibrant drama about a tight-knit Indian American community navigating love, desire, and belonging". "Rich with nuance, passion, and unforgettable characters, 'Unaccustomed Earth' invites you into the elite and insular Indian-American community of Cambridge, MA. When a star-crossed romance between a devoted wife and her long lost love comes to light, a scandalous affair is born and new battle lines are drawn in this intensely interconnected immigrant community," the official logline read. The series will be written by John Wells, best known for developing hit American show "Shameless" and directing movies such as "August: Osage County" and "Burnt", in collaboration with Madhuri Shekar, who will serve as the showrunner. Ritesh Batra, the director of The Lunchbox and "Photograph, will helm and executive produce the first and second episodes. Filmmaker Nisha Ganatra, who had originally optioned the book and developed the series, will also executive produce. Lahiri will executive produce as well, along with Erica Saleh, Erin Jontow and Celia Costas. Her 2003 novel The Namesake was famously adapted into a 2006 film by Mira Nair, starring Kal Penn, Tabu, and Irrfan Khan. Unaccustomed Earth will be produced by Warner Bros Television, where Wells is under an overall deal.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Freida Pinto to lead Netflix's series based on Jhumpa Lahiri's short stories 'Unaccustomed Earth'
LOS ANGELES: Indian actor Freida Pinto is set to headline Unaccustomed Earth, a series adaptation of author Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collection of the same title. The project was announced by streaming service Netflix in April and will feature eight episodes, according to entertainment news outlet Variety. Pinto, known for starring in critically-acclaimed and award-winning movies such as "Slumdog Millionaire", "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" and "Love Sonia", will essay the role of Parul Chaudhury. Unaccustomed Earth is described as an "epic, soapy, and culturally vibrant drama about a tight-knit Indian American community navigating love, desire, and belonging". "Rich with nuance, passion, and unforgettable characters, Unaccustomed Earth invites you into the elite and insular Indian-American community of Cambridge, MA.
UPI
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Freida Pinto to lead Netflix's 'Unaccustomed Earth' adaptation
1 of 5 | Freida Pinto, seen at the 2023 New York Women in Film and Television 43rd Annual Muse Awards, will star in "Unaccustomed Earth." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- Netflix announced Thursday that Freida Pinto will lead an adaptation of Unaccustomed Earth on the streaming service. The series is based on the Jhumpa Lahiri short story collection. Pinto plays Parul Chaudhury in the show, which is set in an Indian-American community in Cambridge, Mass. A married woman has an affair with her forbidden lover, creating drama within an ensemble of characters in the community. Madhuri Shekar adapts the stories as writer and showrunner. Shekar executive produces with John Wells, Ritesh Batra, Nisha Ganatra, Erica Saleh, Erin Jontow, Celia Costas and Lahiri. The series will be eight episodes. Batra will direct the first two. Pinto made her feature film debut in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire. She has since appeared in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Immortals and series The Path, Guerilla and Surface.
India Today
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ramayana aims to redefine world's perception of India: Producer Namit Malhotra
Producer Namit Malhotra, known for his work on visual effects for films like 'Dune' and 'Oppenheimer', recently shared insights into his decision to back Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious project, 'Ramayana'. In a podcast interview, Malhotra expressed his desire to elevate Indian culture on the global stage, using the epic as a medium to challenge existing narratives about India. He emphasised the importance of presenting a narrative that reflects the rich heritage and grandeur of Indian articulated his vision to change the Western narrative about India. He noted that many Indian stories that gained international acclaim, such as 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'Gandhi', and 'Lion', often depicted India in a victimised light. He stated, "When I looked at the kind of Indian stories that had broken through internationally - Slumdog Millionaire, Gandhi, Lion, even RRR, which is a great testament to (SS) Rajamouli's success in making a film that resonated with Hollywood for the first time, but until then, I realised most of them portrayed us as victims. We were poor and always less fortunate."Malhotra, who was speaking to podcaster Prakhar Gupta, further explained his motivation for choosing 'Ramayana' as the medium to convey an alternative perspective of India. He believes that the epic embodies the essence of India's historical and cultural richness, providing an opportunity to present India as more than just a backdrop to hardship. 'Ramayana' represents, for Malhotra, the evolution of civilisation and serves as a beacon of India's potential on the world on his personal drive, Malhotra shared, "I was like, 'no, that's not who we are'. That's not where my core strength and energy come from. Ramayana became that story for me. How do I take this and present something that is the evolution of the planet, that's the first civilisation in the world? That's the greatest in the world."His vision stemmed from a desire to redefine how Indian stories are perceived internationally, focusing on strengths and cultural Malhotra's commitment to showcasing Indian culture through 'Ramayana' aims to shift perceptions, offering a narrative that celebrates India's historical and cultural legacy. By bringing Indian stories to the forefront, Malhotra hopes to inspire a wider appreciation for India's past and its continued influence on global film, which has been made in two parts, features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, while Ravi Dubey plays the role of Lakshman. Sunny Deol and Yash essay the roles of Lord Hanuman and Ravana, respectively. The film series is being made on a whopping budget of Rs 4000 crore, with the first part releasing during Diwali in 2026.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Ranbir Kapoor#Yash#Sunny Deol
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aussie influencer's Mumbai mall video shocks viewers after he says THIS about India– Watch now
A video by Australian content creator Jeremy Franco has gone viral online, sparking fresh discussion about the visible contrast between wealth and poverty in Indian cities. Shot at Mumbai's Phoenix Palladium Mall– a destination known for luxury brands– the clip captures Franco sharing his thoughts on the economic disparity seen just outside the mall's doors. 'India is poor and rich at the same time' In the video, Franco walks through the upscale mall located in Lower Parel, stopping by international labels like Gucci and Dior. While filming, he remarks: 'One thing about India is that you can go from filthy poor to filthy rich in two seconds, because tell me why I'm in a luxury store and two metres outside this place could be the set of Slumdog Millionaire.' The quote, combined with a text overlay that reads 'India is poor and rich at the same time,' highlights the theme of contrast– a reality many living in or visiting Mumbai are familiar with. The sharp difference between lavish interiors and the street scenes just outside has drawn strong reactions online. Reactions: Agreement, discomfort, and criticism The video has led to a wave of mixed responses. Some users echoed Franco's observations, pointing out the very real class divide that exists in Mumbai and other large cities. One user wrote: 'Wealth disparity in India is quite insane, yes.' Another shared their own memory, saying: 'I remember that the first time I landed in Bombay as a kid, I was perplexed by the have and have-nots, side by side. Duality is a way better word for it. Almost nothing like it.' But not everyone agreed with the video's portrayal. Some criticised what they saw as a narrow take, one that focuses too heavily on poverty and ignores the wider picture. One viewer commented: 'India's diverse beauty is often overlooked by foreign content creators who focus on slums and street food for followers.' A broader issue beyond borders The conversation also expanded beyond India, touching on inequality seen in other parts of the world. A viewer compared the situation to their experience in the US, saying: 'Lived in the US. The physical boundaries between rich and poor neighbourhoods shocked me. And also, poor work - there is no danger like in the US. I'm not justifying inequality, that's terrible, but proximity, I think, is better than apartheid in the US. ' Still, others felt the content didn't reveal anything new. For many, it simply pointed out what Mumbai has long represented– a city where extremes often sit side by side. As one comment put it: 'That's just Bombay in a nutshell.' Thumb image credits: Instagram
