Tabu, who has previously worked with Meera Nair on Namesake, an adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel will be seen in the avatar of courtesan Saaeda Bai. Ishaan Khatter will be Mira Nair's, Maan Kapoor, a strong-willed son of a politician. It is a tremendous step for the actor who's not alien to foreign projects (Majid Majidi's Beyond the Clouds) from his current work in Bollywood and is elated to work with a team of such stature.
Mira Nair has said that the choice of her current project has become "timelier" than ever. At the heart of the novel is free-thinking Lata, who decides to become the master of her own destiny, against the backdrop of a post-independence India which is working to establish its identity.
"Vikram tells the story of a free India and our people with wit, clarity and love- I am deeply honoured to be the one bringing this intimate, epic tale of an unseen India to the world. Today, A Suitable Boy is timelier than ever."
"With a mix of legendary and cutting-edge actors from the subcontinent, shooting entirely on location in palaces, villages, and streets across northern India, we will keep the history and dream of an alternate India alive," she said.
Replete with themes of prejudice and forgiveness, Seth's novel also deals with trials and tribulations of four elite families over the course of 18 months: the Mehras, the Kapoors, the Chatterjis, and the Khans. Written by Andrew Davies and directed by Mira Nair, this BBC's Lookout Point produced mini-series will soon start shooting in India, with Lucknow and Mahabaleshwar being scouted as potential locations.
