Charlie Hunnam, Radhika Apte cast in Apple's Shantaram web-series

After years of delay, Gregory Davids Roberts's bestselling novel, Shantaram, will finally be adapted into a web-series. Apple had won the development rights over from Paramount Television and Anonymous Content to make into a web-series last year.

Directed by Eric Singer, the series will feature Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam in the lead role of Lin, an escaped Australian convict who finds asylum and a new life in Mumbai. 

Published in 2003, Shantaram went on to become one of the most widely read books about life and the mysterious adventures set in contemporary Mumbai.

According to Deadline.com, Apple TV web-series will be written by Eric Warren Singer. Singer has previously written the Oscar nominated American Hustle (2013) and the sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2020). 

The first two episodes of the series will be directed by Assassin's Creed (2016) filmmaker Justin Kurzel.

The series will also feature Radhika Apte as the journalist Kavita who Lin stumbles across during his stay in the city. In addition to Apte, actor Richard Roxborough will feature as the Australian detective sergeant Martin Nightingalem who comes to India in search of Lin. 

There have been rumours surrounding the adaptation of the book since its initial publication. While Russell Crowe had shown initial interest, Warner Bros went ahead with a $2 million bid when actor Johnny Depp showed interest in the book. In 2006, director Mira Nair was brought on board, but the project never moved. In 2013, Depp took over and brought in Joel Edgerton to play the role, but again the project was delayed. 

The web-series has a $5 million tax incentive from the Australian government, and the crew will begin shooting in India and Australia in this October. 

Apple TV Plus follows Netflix and Amazon Prime with an official launch in India this November. A week-long free trial will be available to users, followed by a Rs99 per month price for the streaming service.