Trisha Sakhlecha Novel ‘The Inheritance’ Getting TV Treatment

EXCLUSIVE: Kunal Nayyar’s Good Karma Productions has acquired the rights to Trisha Sakhlecha’s U.S. novel debut, The Inheritance, to be developed for TV with Geeta Vasant Patel (Under the Bridge, House of the Dragon) attached to direct.

Nayyar, Saklecha, and Patel will executive produce the project alongside Good Karma’s recently promoted Vice President, Logan Kovarick. UTA brokered the offer on behalf of the author.

Released in January by Pamela Dorman Books/Penguin Random House, The Inheritance follows the Agarwal family, who have gathered on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland for a much-anticipated family reunion. Raj, the patriarch and a business tycoon, is about to announce his succession plan to his wife and three children for his multimillion-dollar Delhi-based company.

Shalini, the fragile matriarch, is ready to have her husband to herself after years of sacrifice to the family business. Myra, the golden child and owner of the island, is, unbeknownst to her family, on the brink of bankruptcy. Aseem, the son and supposed heir, is torn between his love for his wife and his duty to family. Aisha, the youngest, a event mami whose antics are legendary, can’t pass up an opportunity to wreak havoc. And then there’s Zoe, Aseem’s wife, the outsider whose #InstaPerfect life is built on a foundation of lies.

They’ve all got secrets they would die to protect. Who will survive this high-stakes reunion, and who will become a victim of their own greed? One thing is sure: this family gathering will shatter more than just their illusions of unity.

“The Inheritance is exactly the kind of story that makes us salivate over film and TV. Murder, mystery, opulence, but at its core, the beating heart of a family drama. This is not just a South Asian story; it is a story that makes all of us question, “What would you do?” And it is a precise example of the kind of work we are procuring here at Good Karma,” shared Nayyar.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Kunal Nayyar and Good Karma Productions on developing The Inheritance for television. Kunal’s bold, cinematic vision, incredible talent, and deep understanding of modern India make him the perfect partner to bring the Agarwal family’s story of wealth, privilege, and murder to life. With Geeta Patel directing—bringing emotional depth and a sharp eye for tension—I couldn’t imagine a better team to capture the heart and suspense of the novel,” said Saklecha.

Sakhlecha grew up in New Delhi and today splits her time between Berlin and London. She is a diplomat, currently serving as the Director of the Tagore Centre at the Embassy of India. She previously worked in the fashion industry as a business consultant, designer, and trend forecaster. She is repped by UTA and Curtis Brown.

Nayyar is a BAFTA-nominated actor best known for his role as Raj Koothrappali on CBS’s long-running comedy series The Big Bang Theory. He can currently be seen as one of the leads in the Apple TV series Suspicion and the Netflix feature Spaceman, opposite Adam Sandler, directed by Johan Renck. He will next be seen in Gurinder Chadha’s upcoming film, Christmas Karma, which is set for release later this year, and Ravi Kapoor’s new film, Patel. Nayyar is repped by Innovative Artists and Lovett Management. 

Patel most recently directed episodes of the upcoming HBO drama series Lanterns, based on the Green Lantern DC comic. Previously, she directed and executive produced the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, a spinoff of the network’s smash anthem Game of Thrones, as well as Hulu’s Under the Bridge. Additional TV directing credits include Ahsoka, for Disney+, P-Valley and Sweetbitter for Starz, NBC’s Superstore, and Hulu’s The Mindy Project. On the film side, she co-wrote, directed, served as cinematographer, and starred in Meet the Patels (2014), working opposite her brother, Ravi Patel. She is represented by UTA.