Avni Doshi’s bestselling novel Burnt Sugar is getting the movie treatment with the celebrated Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta has signed on to direct the adaptation. The filmmaker is known for her profound and provocative filmmaking, including the dramas Funny Boy and Water.

The novel, set in the Indian city of Pune, chronicles the narrative of Tara. After a wild childhood, she finds obstacles as an adult and must restore her relationship with her daughter.

The novel has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide and has been shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize and longlisted for the 2021 Women’s Prize.

Carmen Nasr will adapt the story, while the cast and creative team have yet to be named.

“Depicting complicated human connections are what drive most of my projects, and I look forward to delving into the complex, layered, and at times surprisingly dark mother-daughter relationship that is so shockingly illustrated in this novel,” said Mehta via Variety.

Mehta added: “Burnt Sugar is often sprinkled with razor sharp humor and its unexpected take on the old-as-time relationship left me gasping. It grabbed me from its first sentence, and I couldn’t say yes fast enough when I was asked to bring the vision to the screen.”

The Lot Productions has acquired theater rights intending to develop a play that will premiere in London during the 2023 season.

Mehta most recently directed the first episode of Showtime’s upcoming series Yellowjackets starring Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis. The series is set to premiere on November 14, 2021.