Blink49 Studios and Lilly Singh’s Unicorn Island Productions are in development on a drama series based on the novel Arzu from Mumbai-based author Riva Razdan.

The project is part of the first-look deal between the two companies. U.S.-based scribe Geetika Lizardi (Bridgerton, Outsourced; pictured left) is on board to write and serve as showrunner of the series, while Bridgerton actor Charithra Chandran (pictured right) is attached to star.

Arzu follows a young heiress from Mumbai who moves to New York City after a scandal, and attempts to integrate herself into Manhattan’s high society.

Scarborough, Ont.-born Singh and Polly Auritt are executive producers for Unicorn Island Productions alongside Carolyn Newman and Virginia Rankin for Blink49 Studios, as well as Lizardi and Chandran.

“Arzu exemplifies the very essence of our initial collaboration with Lilly and Unicorn Island Productions,” said Newman, Blink49’s EVP of global scripted television, in a statement.

Added Singh: “Arzu is an inspiring story about a woman who rejects societal norms in favour of her own passions and pursuits. It’s sexy, surprising, and subverts the limited South Asian stereotypes we’ve grown all too accustomed to seeing.”

Lizardi is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, A3 Artists Agency, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein; Chandran is repped by The Gersh Agency, Jonathan Arun Group and Narrative PR; and Singh is represented by WME and managed by XX Artists.