Bollywood to remake Idris Elba's hit show 'Luther' with Ajay Devgn in the lead

New web series set to begin filming soon in Mumbai also marks Devgn's foray into the small screen

Bollywood star Ajay Devgn will play the lead in the Indian adaptation of hit British show 'Luther'. Instagram / ajaydevgn

Idris Elba's detective John Luther is getting a Bollywood counterpart, with actor Ajay Devgn playing the lead role in the Indian adaptation of the hit British show Luther.

Called Rudra - The Edge of Darkness, the series, which also marks Devgn's foray into the small screen, will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar and will be produced by BBC Studios India and Applause Entertainment.

"Happy to announce the crime thriller of the year Hotstar Specials Rudra - The Edge Of Darkness. This one's going to be 'killer'," Devgn posted on social media on Tuesday.

The 52-year-old actor and director, who is known for playing cops in many of his films, said in a statement he was drawn to the complex lead character.

“Playing a cop on screen is not new to me, but this time the character is more intense and dark. What drew me most to his persona, is that he is possibly the greyest character you may come across in recent times.”

He also added that he wanted to “raise the bar of entertainment in India”.

"My attempt has always been to tell unique stories and work with good talent. The digital world excites me, and I am looking forward to working with Applause and BBC to bring this series to life on Disney+ Hotstar. Rudra – The Edge of Darkness is a compelling and highly intriguing story and I can't wait to begin this new journey," he said.

In Luther, Elba plays a dedicated but sometimes violent police officer who gets consumed by the dark crimes he investigates.

The BBC show, which ran for five series, has won Elba a number of awards and Emmy nominations.

“The narrative is bold and genre-defining, crafted not just for metro audiences but also appealing to hundreds of millions of users across the country. We’re thrilled to have Ajay Devgn headline the series and we are certain that his fans would be happy to see him in a new avatar,” said Sunil Rayan, the president of Disney+ Hotstar.

Production is set to begin soon across Mumbai, but may face delays as India grapples with rising coronavirus cases, which has resulted in film shoots being temporarily banned.

Disney+ Hotstar already has a number of British adaptations on its streaming service, including Indian versions of The Office and Criminal Justice.