Downton Abbey maker Philip John’s next project will feature Indian actress Shruti Haasan, confirmed the makers on Wednesday.

Titled Chennai Story, the coming-of-age romantic movie is the first Indian film backed by the British Film Institute’s (BFI) UK Global Screen Fund.

Currently in pre-production, Chennai Story will be primarily shot in Chennai and Cardiff as its narrative takes place across India and Wales.

Shruti will share screen space with British actor Viveik Kalra in the movie, where she will play a private detective. Kalra previously featured in Netflix series Beecham House (2019) and Kevin Hart-starrer Lift (2024).

Sharing her excitement, Shruti gushed about the film, saying it would showcase the diversity and uniqueness of Chennai.

“Collaborating with Phil (Philip John) is something I’m so excited to experience. Telling global and rooted stories through international collaboration is what making cinema is all about,” the actress added.

John, too, was excited about the prospect of teaming up with “the incredibly talented Shruti on an emotional rollercoaster of a story set in Chennai and Cardiff”.

“With the support of BFI, this film brings a whole new collaboration to international film production while also bringing a fresh, underexplored Wales and India to the big screen,” the filmmaker said.

Based on Timeri N. Murari’s 2004 book The Arrangements of Love, Chennai story is co-produced by Guru Films (India), Ripple World Pictures (UK) and ie ie Productions (Wales). The film will be made under the bilateral UK-India co-production treaty.

John has co-written the screenplay of the movie with Nimmi Harasgama. BAFTA-winning cinematographer Graham Frake is also a part of the project.