After Shooting in South Africa and India, CTV’s New Dramedy THE INDIAN DETECTIVE Starring Russell Peters Wraps Production in Toronto
– Original four-part CTV Event Series from award-winning executive producer Frank Spotnitz (THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, THE X-FILES) of Big Light Productions and Lance Samuels and Daniel Iron (MADIBA, THE BOOK OF NEGROES) of Blue Ice Pictures Produced in association with CTV –
– Featuring William Shatner (STAR TREK) alongside Russell Peters –
– Bollywood star Anupam Kher (Silver Linings Playbook, Bend It Like Beckham), Christina Cole (Casino Royale, SUITS), and Mishqah Parthiephal (Snake Park) also confirmed as supporting cast –
– THE INDIAN DETECTIVE set to premiere as part of CTV’s 2017/18 schedule –
TORONTO, ON (April 25, 2017)
CTV along with producing partners Big Light Productions and Blue Ice Pictures announced today that production has wrapped on THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, following international production in Cape Town, South Africa and Mumbai, India earlier this year. The four-part, one-hour, comedic drama, starring international comedy sensation Russell Peters in his first scripted TV series, is set to premiere as part of CTV’s 2017/18 schedule.
THE INDIAN DETECTIVE follows Toronto cop Doug D’Mello (Peters) as he becomes embroiled in a murder case while visiting his father, Stanley (Anupam Kher), in Mumbai. The investigation leads Doug to uncover a dangerous conspiracy while dealing with his own ambivalence towards a country where despite his heritage, he is an outsider.
“Russell Peters is a comedic superstar. Following a series of successful international shoots in Cape Town and Mumbai, Russell returns home as production wraps in Toronto. We are thrilled to be working with such an exceptionally talented group of cast and producers to bring this fish-out-of-water police drama, mixed with Russell’s comedic voice, to life.”
Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media
“I am thrilled to be working with the amazing Russell Peters and this incredible team. This is a show with a huge heart that looks at different cultures with the kind of wit and insight that audiences around the world have come to expect from Russell. It is an honour to have developed and produced this international series with such renowned collaborators as Russell Peters, Frank Spotnitz and director Sandy Johnson,” said Executive Producers Lance Samuels and Daniel Iron of Blue Ice Pictures. “We are also thrilled to be making the show with our great partners at Bell Media. Beyond being a showcase for the inestimable talents and reach of Russell Peters, we are blessed with a wonderful international cast for this unique and wildly entertaining series.”
Frank Spotnitz, Big Light Productions
“This production was truly representative of Russell’s commitment to diversity and the embracing of all cultures and orientations. I have never seen a crew and production team as reflective of those values as I have on THE INDIAN DETECTIVE.”
Clayton Peters, Executive Producer, CPI Pictures
As THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, Peters is a charming, smart, ambitious Toronto cop of Indian heritage whose dreams of becoming a homicide detective are put on hold when he is unjustly suspended.
Additional cast members also confirmed today include Canadian icon William Shatner (STAR TREK), who wrapped filming in Cape Town earlier this year playing a billionaire property developer from Toronto who may have ties to the criminal underworld.
Additionally, award-winning actor and Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher (Silver Linings Playbook, Bend It Like Beckham) stars as Stanley D’Mello, Doug’s father, a retired airline pilot who moved back to India after the death of his wife. He’s a lovable rascal, trying to reconnect with his son in his golden years. Christina Cole (Casino Royale. SUITS) plays Constable Robyn Gerner, Doug’s tough, beautiful all-Canadian partner. Mishqah Parthiepal (Snake Park) stars as Priya Sehgal, an earnest and dedicated lawyer, born into an upper-middle class family in Mumbai; Priya has chosen to dedicate herself to serving the legal needs of the poor of the Annapuri Slum.
Equal doses comedy and high-stakes drama, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE is executive produced by Golden Globe®-winning and Emmy®-nominated Frank Spotnitz (THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, THE X-FILES) of Big Light Productions and Lance Samuels and Daniel Iron (MADIBA, THE BOOK OF NEGROES) of Blue Ice Pictures.
THE INDIAN DETECTIVE is a co-production between Big Light Productions, Blue Ice Pictures, Wonder Films, and Bell Media. The series was created, executive produced, and written for Russell Peters by Spotnitz and Smita Bhide (HUNTED, TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES). The series is directed by BAFTA award-winner Sandy Johnson (BENIDORM, JONATHAN CREEK) and produced by Trevor Hopkins (FORTITUDE, CUFFS). It is executive produced by Blue Ice Pictures’ Daniel Iron and Lance Samuels (MADIBA, THE BOOK OF NEGROES), Wonder Films’ Mark Burton (Water, Tallulah), Russell Peters (HIP-HOP EVOLUTION), CPI Pictures’ Clayton Peters (Breakaway, RUSSELL PETERS VERSUS THE WORLD), and Paul Canterna. Co-executive producer is Sharon Remmer (THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE).
Production Executives for Bell Media are: Sarah Fowlie, who is Director, Original Programming, Comedy; Chris Kelley, Production Executive, Original Programming; and Corrie Coe, who is Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media. The project is financed by Blue Ice Pictures and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC).