EXCLUSIVE: Indian actress-producers Rashaana Shah and Manasi Parekh have joined producer and musician Parthiv Gohil on the advisory board of AIF Media Fund Orenda Creative, an investment platform targeting international features and documentaries.
The India-based fund, which is partnered with Indian financial services provider Orenda Holdings, has raised $10M in an initial round.
The fund’s initial three-picture slate includes an adaptation of Purple America, a novel by Rick Moody whose The Ice Storm was previously adapted by Ang Lee. Published in 1996, Purple America tells the story of a troubled son who returns home to care for his terminally ill mother.
Travis Hodgkins is attached to write and direct the project, which is currently casting to start production in the first quarter of next year.
The founders say the new fund aims to bridge the gap between storytellers and investors by “supporting projects that combine artistic excellence with commercial potential, investing in feature films, documentaries and cross-border co-productions, with a particular emphasis on stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.”
Also on the fund’s initial slate is international mystery thriller Nanda Devi, based on the life rights of climber Rob Schaller, which explores the real-life story of the disappearance of five kilograms of plutonium during a covert mission in the Himalayas.
Currently in pre-production, Laxman is a coming-of-age story about a young brother and sister who, after poverty deprives them of the simple joy of a glass of milk, create a refuge for abandoned cows that brings hope, dignity and compassion to an entire region.
Gohil is an acclaimed playback singer who also operates India-based production house Soul Sutra with his wife Parekh, a National Award winning actress with credits including Kutch Express and Uri: The Surgical Strike. Soul Sutra has produced films including comedy drama Mitrata, which is scheduled for a September 25 theatrical release in India and the U.S.
Shah is an actress and producer working across India and the US, with acting credits including American Warrior and Rang Rasiya. She is also the founder of Los Angeles-based production outfit Mulberry Films, which focuses on international IP development, global partnerships and prestige film opportunities.
Mulberry Films produced war drama Line Of Control, directed by Hodgkins and based on award-winning book The Collaborator about conflicts in Kashmir in the 1990s, which is scheduled for U.S.release through Vision Films on October 6. The company also produced Mayur Puri’s Lost & Found In Kumbh, a UK-India collaboration starring Rahul Bhat (Black Warrant), Katie Amess and Rajshri Deshpande.
“Great stories transcend borders, languages and cultures,” said Gohil. “Our vision is to empower filmmakers and creators who dare to tell meaningful, transformative stories while building a sustainable investment ecosystem for high-quality media. We believe that prestige content is not only culturally valuable but also represents a significant opportunity in the evolving global entertainment landscape.”
Shah said: “Global audiences are hungry for authenticity, cultural specificity and stories that expand our understanding of one another. When we adapt exceptional literature or bring true experiences to the screen with care and imagination, we are not simply making films – we are creating bridges between cultures.”
Manasi added: “We want to transcend borders with powerful Indian stories rooted in the richness, diversity, and imagination of our cultural heritage, and bring them to audiences around the world. With AIF, we are creating a platform where filmmakers can think ambitiously and curate untold stories.”
Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.
Comments On Deadline Hollywood are monitored. So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
