Roy Kapur Films, the production house behind blockbusters like Dangal and Chennai Express, as well as critically acclaimed films such as Barfi! and Haider, is now taking a major leap into international storytelling.
The company has secured the rights to adapt William Dalrymple’s celebrated historical work The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company into a high-profile television series.
The series will be helmed by acclaimed British filmmaker Stephen Frears, known for directing award-winning titles such as The Queen, Philomena, Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, and A Very English Scandal. This ambitious adaptation is set to be an international co-production between Roy Kapur Films and the US-based studio wiip.
Set in the 18th century, The Anarchy traces the dramatic rise of the British East India Company from a modest trading firm to a dominant imperial power that ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent.
The series promises to explore themes that resonate deeply with contemporary global audiences - corporate overreach, unchecked ambition, and the geopolitical consequences of profit-driven enterprises.
Shooting for the series is planned across the UK and various Asian locations, signaling a production of grand scale and ambition.
Speaking on the project, Frears highlighted its modern relevance: “This is the most contemporary of themes - corporate greed, market manipulation, the exploitation of economies. The East India Company was a prototype for today’s powerful multinationals.”
Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur expressed his excitement over the collaboration. “Stephen is a master storyteller whose work I deeply admire. His direction will add depth and nuance to this rich narrative. Working with our partners at wiip has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to see this important story brought to life on such a global platform.”
Dalrymple’s The Anarchy was longlisted for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize and featured in Barack Obama’s list of top 10 books of the year. The rights acquisition was reportedly one of the most competitive book-to-screen deals in India, and the series is now set to become a landmark production in historical drama.