Deadpan Gangster Tragedy: It’s Showtime for Star-Studded, Macbeth-Inspired ‘Patel’
- The film boasts an exceptional cast including Utkarsh Ambudkar, Richa Moorjani, Kal Penn, Kunal Nayyar, among others.
“Patel,” an anticipated feature from writer-director Ravi Kapoor, has officially wrapped production. The film represents a significant milestone for South Asian representation in cinema, bringing together an impressive ensemble cast for what’s being described as a genre-defying project.
A co-production between Junglee Films, Prism Entertainment and Camelback Productions, the genre-defying film is described as a “deadpan gangster tragedy” set in the world of Indian American–owned motels. The project marks Kapoor’s follow-up to his previous work “Four Samosas” and takes the bold step of reimagining Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” through a distinctly South Asian American lens.
The film boasts an exceptional cast including Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Ghosts”), Richa Moorjani (“Never Have I Ever”), Kal Penn (“The Namesake”), Kunal Nayyar (“The Big Bang Theory”), Danny Pudi (“Going Dutch”), Meera Simhan (“Cross”), Pete Holmes (“Crashing”), Nik Dodani (“Atypical”), Bernard White (“The Matrix Revolutions”), Punam Patel (“Special”), Randall Park (“Always Be My Maybe”), Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”), and Jae Suh Park (“Friends From College”).
The film’s unique approach to adapting classic literature through a contemporary immigrant experience lens positions it as a potentially groundbreaking entry in the growing landscape of South Asian American cinema.
Speaking exclusively to Variety, Kapoor expressed his enthusiasm for the completed project: “I’m excited to share this piece of madness with the world, and I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of collaborators — from the talented cast and incredible crew to the amazingly supportive producers. It’s the ‘Macbeth’ story like you’ve never seen it before — a dark, bloody clown piece that’s a nod to immigrant ambition. We are all Patel!”
Ambudkar, who serves both as star and producer on the film, reflected on the significance of the project for South Asian representation. “I had the honor of working with Ravi on ‘Four Samosas,’ so when he asked me to act in ‘Patel,’ it was an easy yes. His voice is singular, hilarious and deeply human. This role has been the most challenging and rewarding of my career. The South Asian film community has come a long way. Historically, our industry has often kept us in competition, so to be seen like this — together — is nothing short of a dream come true.”
The production team includes producers Megha Kadakia (“The Tiger Hunter”), Ashim Ahuja (“Handle With Care”), Kapoor, Ambudkar, and Anita Verma-Lallian (“Doin’ It”). Production commenced in June in Los Angeles and is targeted for completion later this year, according to Variety.
Behind the scenes, “Patel” has assembled an impressive roster of executive producers committed to amplifying underrepresented voices in cinema. The executive producer team includes Penn, Moorjani, Pudi, Simhan, Manji, Anita Bhatia of Maharani Productions, Priya Giri Desai, Shruti Ganguly, Megha Kadakia of Prism Entertainment, Smita Mehta, MD, Jennifer Verma of Camelback Productions, and Christine Yi of Gold House.
The film’s unique approach to adapting classic literature through a contemporary immigrant experience lens positions it as a potentially groundbreaking entry in the growing landscape of South Asian American cinema. By setting the Shakespearean tragedy within the specific world of Indian American-owned motels, Kapoor appears to be crafting a narrative that speaks to themes of ambition, identity, and the immigrant experience in America.
As the film enters post-production, industry observers will be watching closely to see how this “deadpan gangster tragedy” translates the timeless themes of “Macbeth” into a distinctly modern and culturally specific context. With its stellar cast and creative team, “Patel” stands poised to make a significant impact when it reaches audiences.