Star India latest to make Keshet’s Prisoners

Star India has commissioned a local version of Israeli thriller drama Prisoners of War.

The deal with distributor Keshet International hands general entertainment network Star Plus an Indian adaptation, with Emmay Entertainment (Airlift, Katti Batti) attached to produce. Bollywood director Nikkhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho) will direct the series.

Prisoners, which comes from Gideon Raff and debuted on Keshet/Channel 2 in Israel in 2011, became an international hit after Showtime adapted it as Homeland. It has since been licensed into South Korea, where Star J Entertainment is producing it, Russia (Weit Media) and Turkey (Medyapim).

The original tape has also shopped around the world.

“Star Plus has always been at the forefront of bringing the best of the world to Indian television by constantly redefining the grammar of storytelling,” said a Star India spokesperson. “This series, a psychological thriller, will engage and capture the imagination of the Indian viewer.”

“The versatility of the format is evident, since it has attracted a dedicated following anywhere it has aired in the world,” said Keshet Internaional’s managing director, distribution, Keren Shahar. “Securing this deal with a highly esteemed partner is  indicative of KI’s future ambitions in India.”

Star India is part of the 21^st Century Fox media group.