Inspector Ghote Series In Development with Endemol Shine India

Endemol Shine India has optioned H.R.F. Keating’s Inspector Ghote detective novel series for a multipart adaptation.

The Perfect Murder, the first book in Keating’s series, came out in 1964 and introduced Inspector Ganesh V. Ghote, an officer in the Bombay CID. Though the novel was intended as a one-off, Keating went on to write 25 titles featuring Ghote that were published over a 45-year period before his death in 2011.

Dramatic rights were acquired by Endemol Shine India from broadcast agent James Carroll at Northbank Talent Management on behalf of Peter Buckman at The Ampersand Agency and the H.R.F. Keating Estate. Mumbai-based agency The Story Ink was the advisor on the deal for Endemol Shine India.

Abhishek Rege, CEO of Endemol Shine India, said: “We at Endemol Shine India look forward to bringing alive the inimitable world of Inspector Ghote, first created by H.R.F. Keating in the 1960s. Our attraction to the series, along with the prestige of reintroducing the legacy of H.R.F. to a new audience, was the wide appeal and popularity of this lovable Indian Inspector. This universe celebrates not just a highly endearing and enduring character but also the nostalgia of a slice of our collective past, history and culture. The joy as producers and creators is to be able to create content that cuts across demographics and geographies because it is unique relatable and entertaining. “

Sheila Mitchell, Keating’s wife, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Harry is being celebrated in so many ways some nine years after he died and I am quite sure that, with Endemol Shine India’s reputation, they will find a way not only to bring the essential Ghote to the screen but also that their adaptation will introduce him to new generations.”

Sidharth Jain, producer and founder at The Story Ink, said: “The Inspector Ghote series is a much coveted and exciting addition to Endemol Shine India and The Story Ink’s joint development and co-production slate. I’m very happy for The Story Ink to be part of this thrilling collaboration.”