Animated Bollywood-Focused Musical ‘Diya’ in the Works at Paramount From Producers Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley (Exclusive)

A musical comedy film celebrating the spirit of Bollywood is ready to spring to life for Paramount Animation.

The original animated feature Diya is in development at the studio, with Nitya Mehra (Baar Baar Dekho) attached to direct, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Jaydeep Hasrajani and Jake Goldman will write the script for the project that includes Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley and Kunal Nayyar as producers.

Diya centers on an Indian American teen girl in New Jersey who unexpectedly finds herself transported into the world of a Bollywood musical. Goldstein and Daley produce for GoldDay through a first-look deal with the studio, with Sara Smith overseeing the film. Nayyar produces for Good Karma, with Logan Kovarick executive producing. The project originated with Reel FX Animation Studios, which is set to produce.

Paramount Animation has seen a busy run for president Jennifer Dodge, who took on the role at the start of the year. Among the projects in the works for the animation group include Robert Rodriguez’s original Christmas feature The Naughty List, an animated film adapting the CBS series Survivor and Dan Trachtenberg’s family-friendly horror-comedy Freddy the 13th. Paramount Pictures‘ PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie hits theaters Aug. 14.