Paramount Unveils Diya, an Animated Bollywood Musical Comedy

• Paramount Animation is developing Diya, an original animated musical comedy inspired by the spirit of Bollywood.
• Indian filmmaker Nitya Mehra is attached to direct the feature.
• The story follows an Indian American teenage girl from New Jersey who is transported into the world of a Bollywood musical.
• Jaydeep Hasrajani and Jake Goldman are writing the screenplay, while Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley and Kunal Nayyar are producing.
• Reel FX Animation Studios originated the project and will produce the film. No release date has been announced.

Paramount Animation is expanding its slate with Diya, an original animated musical comedy inspired by Bollywood. The studio has attached filmmaker Nitya Mehra to direct the project, which follows an Indian American teenager whose ordinary life takes an unexpected turn when she is transported into the vibrant world of a Bollywood musical.

The feature is currently in development, with no release window announced.

Story Centers on an Indian American Teen

Diya tells the story of a teenage girl from New Jersey who suddenly finds herself inside a Bollywood-style musical, blending elements of fantasy, comedy and music. The project marks one of Paramount Animation’s latest original productions and reflects the studio’s continued investment in culturally diverse storytelling.

Jaydeep Hasrajani and Jake Goldman have been tapped to write the screenplay. Hasrajani is an Indian American animator and filmmaker known for creating Netflix’s Boons and Curses and for his work on The Powerpuff Girls, The Fungies! and Ghee Happy. Goldman is an Emmy-nominated writer whose credits include Hero Inside, DC Metalforce, The Powerpuff Girls and Futurama.

Experienced Creative Team Behind the Film

The film will be produced by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley through their GoldDay banner under their first-look deal with Paramount. Kunal Nayyar is also producing through his Good Karma banner, with Logan Kovarick serving as executive producer. Sara Smith is overseeing the project for Paramount Animation.

Reel FX Animation Studios, where Diya originated, will produce the feature. The studio has previously collaborated on animated films including The Book of Life, Rumble, Back to the Outback and SCOOB!.

Nitya Mehra Returns to Feature Direction

Mehra, best known for directing Baar Baar Dekho, has more recently worked in streaming television as executive producer and showrunner of Made in Heaven and creator of Big Girls Don’t Cry. She also co-created, directed and served as showrunner for Hunkkaar, which is scheduled to premiere on Hotstar on September 18.

Goldstein and Daley previously directed Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and are attached to direct an original Star Trek film for Paramount. Nayyar is widely known for portraying Raj Koothrappali in *The Big Bang Theory* and continues to work across film and television.

Part of Paramount Animation’s Growing Slate

Diya joins an expanding lineup at Paramount Animation under president Jennifer Dodge. The studio’s upcoming projects include Robert Rodriguez’s The Naughty List, an animated adaptation of the Survivor franchise, and Freddy the 13th, a family horror-comedy directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

While development on Diya is underway, Paramount has not announced a theatrical release date.