Uday Chopra to produce Hollywood remake of 'Kahaani' titled 'Deity'
Mumbai: YRF Entertainment (subsidiary of Yash Raj Films Private Limited (YRF), based in Los Angeles) will remake the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Sujoy Ghosh directed and Vidya Balan starrer ‘Kahaani’, for Western and international audiences as 'Deity'’.
'Deity' will be directed by Niels Arden Oplev (‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’). Jose Rivera (‘The Motorcycle Diaries’) and Richard Regen (‘Tehran’) have scripted the adaptation.
The movie is a thriller about an American woman who goes to Kolkata in search of her missing husband. As she gets closer to the truth, she finds herself at the centre of a dangerous conspiracy. The story unfolds in the context of a colourful, week-long festival.
An excited Sujoy Ghosh said, “It's an incredible step by YRF. Years back Aditya Chopra had said he wanted to make ‘Kahaani’ for a global audience… I thought he was kidding. But obviously not. YRF has left no stone unturned on making the English version. The new script by Jose Rivera and Richard Regen is perfectly suited for the Western audience and what I am really looking forward is to see Niels direct this version. I am sure he will bring a unique vision to the Western version. I am totally excited about this!”
“Niels is the perfect director to transform the appeal of ‘Kahaani’ to 'Deity',” said Uday Chopra, CEO, YRF Entertainment. “Niels has an elevated understanding of both international thrillers and strong female characters and his vision for capturing the vibrancy and energy of contemporary Kolkata will appeal to audiences in the US and worldwide.”
'Deity' will be financed and produced by YRF Entertainment, with CEO Uday Chopra serving as Producer and Jonathan Reiman, Head of Production & Development, serving as Executive Producer.
“'Deity' will be a compelling and exciting thriller with complex and interesting characters”, says Niels Arden Oplev. “A neo-realistic style to story and images will take the audience deep into Calcutta’s many different levels. A fascinating clash between American and Indian culture”.
'Deity' starts production in February 2015 and will be shot on location in Kolkata.
YRF Entertainment recently financed Cannes-opener Grace Of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman, which it produced with Pierre-Ange le Pogam’s Stone Angels and Arash Amel. YRF’s upcoming projects include Amel’s adaptation of Chris Greenhalgh’s novel, Seducing Ingrid Bergman.
