Indian Actresses Join Advisory Board of $10M Film Fund Backing Moody Novel Adaptation
Rashaana Shah and Manasi Parekh have joined the advisory board of AIF Media Fund Orenda Creative, an India-based investment platform for international features and documentaries. The fund has raised $10 million in its initial round and counts producer-musician Parthiv Gohil among its board. Its first slate includes an adaptation of Rick Moody's 1996 novel 'Purple America', about a son caring for his terminally ill mother.
The fund's debut slate centers on an adaptation of Rick Moody's 1996 novel "Purple America," which follows a troubled son returning home to care for his dying mother. Moody previously saw his novel "The Ice Storm" adapted into a celebrated film by Ang Lee, giving the project notable literary pedigree.
Orenda Creative operates in partnership with Orenda Holdings, an Indian financial services firm, and has secured $10 million in its first funding round. The platform targets international features and documentaries, with its advisory board now comprising three industry figures spanning acting, producing, and music.
The involvement of established Indian actresses in an international film investment fund could signal growing cross-border cultural collaboration, potentially opening distribution pathways for Indian talent in global markets. The fund's focus on literary adaptations may also encourage more ambitious, character-driven storytelling, while its documentary arm could amplify underrepresented voices. However, the actual impact depends on the fund's execution and whether its initial $10M translates into commercially viable projects that reach audiences beyond festival circuits.