American cable and satellite television network Starz's independent OTT platform Lionsgate Play which was launched in India officially in December 2020 has started working on its Indian Originals. Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that Lionsgate Play is developing and producing a diverse slate of high-budget premium originals from India, and one of their first projects has gone on floors just today.
The International streaming platform has kicked off its Indian Originals journey with an untitled comedy-drama series that stars Lara Dutta Bhupathi and Prateik Babbar in the lead. We've learnt that the series is an official Indian adaptation of the 2015 American Television series, Casual that revolves around a brother and sister relationship. Filmmaker Kunal Kohli who's previously directed feature films such as Hum Tum (2004), Fanaa (2006), and Teri Meri Kahaani (2012) and recently forayed into webspace with Zee5's Lahore Confidential is helming this dramatic comedy, backed by Jar Pictures.
The show— tentatively titled as Project 23 of the production company Jar Pictures— will see Lara Dutta playing the role of a newly divorced single mother living with her bachelor brother (played by Prateik Babbar) under one rough again. The story is about how they raise a teenage daughter together and support each other through the crazy world of dating. The series set in Mumbai is said to have been beautifully adapted to suit the Indian sensibilities.
Lionsgate Play is apparently developing half a dozen of projects featuring untold edgy urban stories in partnership with some of the premium Indian content companies. Besides the Casual adaptation, they are also working on an adult drama series by Mismatched director Akarsh Khurrana. The casting of that project has been locked and will most likely be the next Lionsgate project to hit the floors. Stay tuned to Peepingmoon as we bring the details of that show very soon!
