Film Production
Jeffrey Archer tips his hat to India’s enduring love for great stories
MUMBAI: When an Archer hits the screen, it’s bound to be cinematic. In a landmark move that marries British literary mastery with Indian storytelling flair, Applause Entertainment has acquired exclusive screen rights to six of Jeffrey Archer’s most popular novels, The Clifton Chronicles, Fourth Estate, First Among Equals, The Eleventh Commandment, Sons of Fortune, and Heads You Win. This marks Applause’s first foray into global fiction adaptations and sets the stage for a string of prestige projects that promise political intrigue, media dynasties, and multi-generational drama with an unmistakably Indian flavour.
In a candid and entertaining conversation, author Jeffrey Archer and Applause Entertainment’s managing director Sameer Nair gave a glimpse into the creative chemistry behind this literary-meets-OTT deal. “I’m sentimental about my Everest story,” Archer said, musing about Prisoner of Birth, a title he still hopes will see a screen adaptation someday. Reflecting on timeless narratives, he added, “Jane Austen, Higgins, Agatha Christie they go on. A good story lasts and lasts.”
This acquisition isn’t just about borrowing bestsellers. “We’re looking to take these stories to a much wider audience,” Nair said. “The adaptations will be reimagined in Hindi, possibly Tamil or Bengali, and crafted for young adult sensibilities without compromising on Archer’s signature pace and drama.” The projects will be helmed by a wide pool of Indian creators Applause has previously collaborated with. “We’re already in discussions, and within the next 3–6 months, you’ll hear announcements,” Nair assured.
The creative challenges, however, aren’t just about casting or rewriting. “Jeffrey and I see eye-to-eye more easily than our lawyers do,” Nair quipped. “But that’s true for everything in showbiz. The lawyers will hold us up more than anyone else.” Archer added, tongue firmly in cheek, “I’ll wait to see the results before I comment again!”
The plan isn’t to play only to Archer’s existing readership either. As Nair explained, “Reading requires literacy. Consuming audiovisual content doesn’t. The idea is to make these adaptations contemporary, bold, and cinematic to reach beyond readers, to those who haven’t read the books, and make them fall in love with the story all over again.”
Asked about the marketing vision, Nair kept it grounded: “We’ve got to make the shows first. Once we do that, we’ll see where they go.” The team hinted at partnerships with global streaming platforms and a high-quality visual treatment, given Archer’s dense plotting and character arcs.
The move also fits squarely within Applause’s content philosophy of adapting compelling, well-known IPs with local creative sensibilities. The studio has previously reimagined formats like Scam 1992 and Criminal Justice for Indian audiences.
For Archer, whose books have sold over 275 million copies globally, this collaboration marks another chapter in his screen journey. His previous titles like Kane and Abel have made it to TV but often, without his permission. “I hate it when people say, ‘I loved Kane and Abel on television,’” Archer lamented. “They just stole the story!”
As for storytelling itself? Both Archer and Nair agree, it’s universal. “There’s no such thing as Indian or foreign storytelling. A local story is only good if it’s universal,” Nair summed up. Archer added, “I read an Italian novel recently The Leopard. Didn’t care that it was Sicilian. It was a damn good story.”
And now, six damn good stories are headed to Indian screens with a fresh voice, but Archer’s trademark twists intact. Let the adaptations begin.
Film Production
Priyanka Kaur Dhillon joins SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution
A seasoned content dealmaker with 16 years in digital and satellite media joins the Bengali entertainment powerhouse as it pushes into the pan-India music market
Mumbai: Priyanka Kaur Dhillon has made her move. The content acquisitions and commercials veteran, most recently commercial manager at Sony Pictures Networks India, has joined SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution, stepping into one of the more interesting briefs in regional entertainment right now.
SVF is no ordinary regional label. Over 30 years it has built a formidable legacy in Bengali cinema and music, driven by culturally resonant storytelling and a catalogue that consistently punches above its weight. Its recent success with Chiraiya underlines the point. But the Kolkata-based powerhouse now has its sights firmly set beyond Bengal, most visibly through Legacy, a rap reality series produced in collaboration with hip-hop label Kalamkaar that signals a deliberate push into the pan-India music ecosystem.
Dhillon brings precisely the kind of muscle SVF needs for that expansion. At Sony Pictures Networks India, she led film acquisition and commercials and handled music licensing across the entire satellite network. Before that, she spent nearly 15 years at Hungama, rising to assistant general manager and leading strategic content licensing for the platform’s digital entertainment business, with a particular focus on international markets. Her label relationships span the full roster: Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, Believe International, Tunecore, The Orchard and a clutch of smaller aggregators. She has negotiated and closed deals with Hollywood studios, Bollywood production houses and regional content players alike, building pricing models and deal structures off data analysis rather than instinct.
Announcing the appointment, Dhillon said she was “thrilled to begin this journey with an iconic Bengali music label and content powerhouse,” adding that SVF’s “constant drive to push boundaries” was what drew her to the role.
SVF has spent three decades proving that regional does not mean limited. With a sharp commercial operator now steering its music distribution, its bid to go national just got a good deal more serious.
