Netflix has acquired the rights for the television adaptation of the best-selling novel The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. Frieda Pinto, who starred in Slumdog Millionaire, is expected to take on a leading role in the series that will be produced and written by Sri Rao, Deadline reports. The series comes from Miramax TV.
The Henna Artist is Joshi’s debut novel and gained in popularity after being chosen as one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks.
Pinto is set to play Lakshmi, an extremely popular henna artist in the 1950s Jaipur social scene. Jaipur, also known as India’s “pink city,” will serve as the backdrop to what Deadline describes as “an English language soapy drama and epic romance.” The story sees Jaipur attempt to maintain her position in Jaipur’s high society as secrets from her past loom behind her.
This is part of a first-look deal that Rao has signed a deal with the streaming giant, and The Henna Artist is one of a series of projects that Rao will create and develop. Sri & Company, Rao’s production company, aims to tell stories that center on South Asian characters and artists, with a particular focus on women and the LGBT community.
