Netflix is about to get a lot more desi—and devastatingly dramatic.
Award-winning Indian actor Freida Pinto is all set to headline Unaccustomed Earth, a powerful new limited series based on the celebrated short story collection by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri.
The eight-episode series, which Netflix announced earlier this year and is now in the creation stage, will transport viewers to the rich and emotionally complex world of affluent Indian-American families as they navigate issues of identity, betrayal, love, and belonging.
Unaccustomed Earth is an "epic, soapy, and culturally vivid drama" that immerses viewers in the isolated Indian-American enclave of Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to the official logline.
The narrative centers on Pinto's character, Parul Chaudhury, a devoted wife whose life takes a turn for the worst when a star-crossed romance from her past reappears. What starts off as a renewed bond turns into a scandal, sending shockwaves across the already fragile immigrant community.
In keeping with the potent topics for which Lahiri has long been praised, anticipate family secrets, cultural expectations, identity problems, and explosive personal choices to take center stage.
This is a creative powerhouse, not merely a celebrity vehicle.
Leading the cast with nuance and universal appeal is Freida Pinto, who has starred in Slumdog Millionaire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Love Sonia.
The show is being adapted by John Wells (Shameless, ER, August: Osage County) and Madhuri Shekar, the acclaimed playwright and writer behind Evil and The Nevers. Shekar will also serve as showrunner.
Acclaimed director Ritesh Batra, whose credits include The Lunchbox and Photograph, will helm and executive produce the first two episodes. Filmmaker Nisha Ganatra (Late Night, The High Note)—who initially optioned the book—will serve as executive producer alongside Lahiri herself, Erica Saleh, Erin Jontow, and Celia Costas.
The show will be produced by Warner Bros. Television, where Wells holds an overall deal.
Unaccustomed Earth marks the second major screen adaptation of Lahiri’s work. Her 2003 novel The Namesake was brought to life in 2006 by Mira Nair in a widely acclaimed film starring Irrfan Khan, Tabu, and Kal Penn.
As executive producer of Unaccustomed Earth, Lahiri helps mold her complex characters and issues for a contemporary, international audience.
Netflix’s investment in this emotionally layered immigrant drama signals more than a star-led show—it’s a mainstream moment for nuanced South Asian storytelling. The series promises not just representation but also depth, desire, and diaspora dilemmas that challenge stereotypes and ignite conversations.
For Indian-American viewers—and anyone who's ever felt torn between tradition and choice—Unaccustomed Earth is poised to hit close to home.
The series is currently in production. A release date is yet to be announced, but the buzz around the casting and creators has already made Unaccustomed Earth one of the most anticipated shows of Netflix’s upcoming slate.
