NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Los Angeles, CA, July 22, 2025: Patel, the much-anticipated feature film from writer-director Ravi Kapoor, has officially wrapped production, bringing together one of the most star-studded South Asian ensembles ever seen in American cinema. Described as a “deadpan gangster tragedy,” Patel is a darkly comedic reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, set in the gritty underworld of Indian American–owned motels.
Written and directed by Kapoor, whose earlier indie success Four Samosas garnered critical acclaim, the film is co-produced by Junglee Films, Prism Entertainment, and Camelback Productions. Production began in June in Los Angeles and is expected to complete post-production later this year.
“This is the Macbeth story like you’ve never seen it before — a dark, bloody clown piece that’s a nod to immigrant ambition,” said Kapoor in an exclusive statement to Variety. “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. We are all Patel!”
The cast includes an impressive roster of South Asian talent from across the entertainment spectrum:
Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts),
Richa Moorjani (Never Have I Ever),
Kal Penn (The Namesake),
Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory),
Danny Pudi (Community),
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).
Ambudkar, who also serves as a producer, called the project “the most challenging and rewarding” of his 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,” he said.
The film is produced by Megha Kadakia (The Tiger Hunter), Ashim Ahuja (Handle With Care), Kapoor, Ambudkar, and Anita Verma-Lallian (Doin’ It). It also boasts a powerhouse team of executive producers committed to elevating underrepresented voices, including Penn, Moorjani, Pudi, Simhan, Manji, Anita Bhatia (Maharani Productions), Priya Giri Desai, Shruti Ganguly, Megha Kadakia (Prism Entertainment), Smita Mehta, MD, Jennifer Verma (Camelback Productions), and Christine Yi of Gold House.
Patel blends Shakespearean tragedy with dark comedy and a distinctly South Asian American lens, offering a fresh take on ambition, power, and identity. With such a unique creative vision and powerhouse cast, the film is already generating buzz as a groundbreaking moment for South Asian representation in Hollywood.
