The White Tiger teaser: Adarsh Gourav is impressive as a man stuck between two worlds

The trailer of Ramin Bahrani’s The White Tiger (2021) lays out the vast difference between the rich and poor. While their paths cross often, the worlds the two inhabit are starkly distinct.

Bahrani adapts Aravind Adiga’s award-winning novel for Netflix casting newcomer Adarsh Gourav as Balram, the driver of a wealthy NRI couple Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas). Gourav is impressive in the drama.

The newcomer holds his own as a crafty man, who realizes when it is time to strike out on his own, even if it is means betraying his employers, who see him just as a servant. The trailer also takes a dig at Slumdog Millionaire (2009) with a dialogue. The Oscar-winning feature was the previous Hollywood film that featured a central character in a rags-to-riches story.

Here, the rise to power for Balram has a darker tone than the feel-good Danny Boyle film. "I'm just one who has woken up when the rest of you are still sleeping," Balram says in the trailer.

The adaptation is due to be released on 22 January 2021. Check out the teaser below and let us know if you are keen on watching the film.