Netflix has boarded its first Indian feature film production, Love Per Square Foot, produced by Bollywood veteran Ronnie Screwvala’s new production company RSVP.
The film also marks the first time a mainstream Indian title is being distributed exclusively via streaming. It will be made available to Netflix’s global subscribers in early 2018.
The directorial debut of actor Anand Tiwari, the quirky romantic comedy will star Vicky Kaushal (Masaan) and Angira Dhar (Bang Baja Baarat), along with Ratna Pathak, Supriya Pathak and Raghuvir Yadav.
The story follows a guy and girl who enter a marriage of convenience to buy a flat in Mumbai, the city of their dreams. RSVP is co-producing the film with Still & Still Pictures.
Screwvala said: “How, where and when great stories are watched is changing everyday. Our younger audiences chose their mediums. We love to disrupt and innovate in this space and this is a first of its kind for South Asia. We are thrilled to come together with Netflix and break new ground by reaching film-lovers around the world directly with Netflix.”
Netflix founder and CEO, Reed Hastings, said: “We’re always looking for stories that bring joy to Netflix members, and Love Per Square Foot is a gem that we’re proud to have on the service. RSVP is a visionary partner, and we want to continue working with them and the best of Bollywood to deliver compelling stories to consumers around the world.”
Screwvala was the founder of leading Mumbai-based studio UTV, which was acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 2012. Following the acquisition, Screwvala served as Disney UTV’s managing director until 2014.
Netflix also currently has its first Indian original series Sacred Games in production, co-directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane and starring Saif Ali Khan. The streaming giant also recently partnered with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment on spy thriller series Bard Of Blood. See full story here.