"I always wanted to make a film of it."
Ramin Bahrani’s presents the epic tale, The White Tiger (2020) based on the namesake novel by the Indian author, Aravind Adiga.
The upcoming film features Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, actor Rajkummar Rao and Adarsh Gourav in the lead roles.
The darkly comic film revolves around Balram Halwai played by Adarsh Gourav as he narrates his rise from a poor villager to a successful entrepreneur in modern India.
The young, ambitious man, whose social status mars his entrepreneurial eye, travels to Delhi to become a driver for Ashok essayed by Rajkummar Rao.
The influential Ashok is married to Pinky essayed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The couple has just returned to India from America.
Ashok has been trained by society to be a mere servant. As a result of this, he ensures he is indispensable to his powerful and rich masters.
However, after a night of betrayal, Ashok comes to the realisation that he must break free from the underbelly of exploitation.
He realises that the rich will stop at nothing to save themselves and trap him.
In retaliation, Ashok rebels against a rigged and unequal system to become a different kind of master.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Ramin Bahrani revealed his interest in making the film. He said:
“I remember reading early versions of The White Tiger years before he finished it.
“I thought it was amazing. I always wanted to make a film of it. I’m grateful he trusted me to do it.”
Priyanka Chopra, who stars in the film is also an executive producer for The White Tiger. Speaking about her character, she said:
“She comes in with this completely different perspective of life as it is in a developing country.
“That was really interesting for me to play, considering I’m an Indian … in my work in the US, I haven’t done a dramatic part like that. So, that was very exciting to me.”
Bahrani continued to speak about the story of The White Tiger. He said:
“It’s really about a man who just wants to be free, free to pursue the totality of his life.
“I think that’s something most of us understand now – a rigged system, chances that are denied and the lengths we will go to make it in this world.”
The White Tiger will release in limited theatres in December 2020. The film will also debut on Netflix on January 22, 2021.
Watch the Teaser to The White Tiger Here
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