Gurinder Chadha has another period drama on the way. ITV ordered a six-part series from the “Viceroy’s House” writer-director and her Bend It TV. Set in Delhi on the cusp of the 19th century, “Beecham House” will follow “the fortunes of the residents of the titular mansion,” according to Deadline. The six-part series’ writers include Chadha and Shahrukh Husain (“In Custody”).
Scheduled to film in India this fall and air in 2019, “the story begins as handsome and soulful former soldier, John Beecham, has acquired the house to start a new life for his family and a business as a trader,” the source summarizes. “Wealthy and distinguished, John has witnessed profiteering and exploitation during his time with the controlling East India Company and appears haunted by his past. Determined to escape that life, he sets his sights on becoming an honorable member of the region’s trading community. But in the glorious setting of Beecham House, John’s life remains shrouded in mystery. His arrival provokes speculation and gossip amongst the servants and despite filling his residence with relatives and friends, Beecham’s house still has dark corners that crackle with conspiracy, disharmony, and sinister intent. The story also unfolds at a time when the 1,000-year-old Mughal rule is over and the British vie with the Maharajas to claim India as their own.”
“‘Beecham House’ is a passion project that is driven by my commitment to telling diverse, emotionally engaging stories for mainstream international audiences,” said Chadha. “I am assembling a vibrant cast of British and Indian actors to play original characters that will appeal to global audiences hungry to see stories from a unique point of view.”
Her latest project, 2017’s “Viceroy’s House,” is set in 1947 and centers on the final Viceroy of India as he oversees the transition of British India to independence.
The “Bend It Like Beckham” filmmaker has a number of projects in the works, including a WWII-set movie about a female Indian spy. She’s also developing a feature based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir “Greetings from Bury Park,” an account of the journalist’s experiences growing up in England as a Muslim and die-hard Bruce Springsteen fan.
