or


[05/18/23 - 02:30 PM]
ABC News Studios Orders New Matchmaker Series from Smriti Mundhra's Meralta Films
The unscripted series has been in development since fall 2022 and is slated to premiere exclusively on Hulu in 2024.

[via press release from ABC]

ABC NEWS STUDIOS ORDERS NEW MATCHMAKER SERIES FROM SMRITI MUNDHRA'S MERALTA FILMS

Unscripted Series To Focus on Muslim Americans Seeking Love To Stream Exclusively on Hulu

ABC News announced today that production is set to begin on a groundbreaking new series from "Indian Matchmaking" creator Smriti Mundhra's Meralta Films produced for ABC News Studios, focusing on Muslim Americans navigating cultural traditions and highlighting the rich diversity across the country and in the community while seeking modern love. The unscripted series has been in development since fall 2022 and is slated to premiere exclusively on Hulu in 2024.

Leading the award-winning creative team for the series are Mundhra who serves as executive producer along with Senain Kheshgi, with executive editorial producer Poh Si Teng overseeing the project for ABC News Studios.

Mundhra is a DGA Award-winning, Oscar(R)- and two-time Emmy(R)-nominated filmmaker. She is the creator and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series "Indian Matchmaking," now in its third season, and executive producer of "Jewish Matchmaking." She also directed and executive produced "The Romantics," a four-part series on the history of Bollywood (Netflix) and co-directed the Academy Award(R)-nominated short documentary "St. Louis Superman" for Al Jazeera English (MTV Documentary Films/Paramount+) and the DGA Award-winning short documentary "Shelter" (HBO Max).

"There is nothing more universal than the pursuit of love. I am thrilled to collaborate with ABC News Studios on this project that will give audiences a chance to experience this journey from a perspective too rarely seen in the mainstream," said Mundhra.

Kheshgi is a director and producer of multiple feature and short films, including the Peabody-winning "Project Kashmir" (PBS/Independent Lens) and the three-time Emmy-nominated documentary "The Diplomat" (ESPN). She is the executive producer of the documentary "A Broken House," which was shortlisted for a 2022 Academy Award. She also created, wrote and directed the comedic docu-web series "Divas of Karachi" (PBS) as well as a series of short films about Syrian and Afghan refugees.

"As a Muslim American, I'm excited to be part of a show that celebrates love and romance within our community," Kheshgi said. "In a world where negative stereotypes often paint Muslims as monolithic, this is an important opportunity to showcase the unique stories, personalities and perspectives of our diverse community. I'm thrilled to be part of a project that has the potential to bring people together and positively impact the way Muslim Americans are perceived and understood."

Teng is a producer, journalist and executive editorial producer for ABC News Studios. She produced the Academy Award-nominated documentary "St. Louis Superman," directed by Mundhra and Sami Khan, as well as the award-winning Oscar-qualified doc "Blood On Our Side" and BAFTA-qualified doc "Dead Woman's Pass."

"ABC News Studios is committed to broadening our roster with shows that speak to the varied experience of our rich diversity. We are extremely excited to work with such accomplished producers to move this vision forward," said Teng.

The as-yet-untitled series is produced by Meralta Films for ABC News Studios. Smriti Mundhra, Senain Kheshgi, Nina Aujla and Maya Gnyp are executive producers for Meralta Films. Poh Si Teng is the executive editorial producer for ABC News Studios. Claire Weinraub is executive producer, and David Sloan is senior executive producer. ABC News Studios is led by Mike Kelley. Reena Mehta is SVP, Streaming and Digital Content.

About ABC News Studios

ABC News Studios, inspired by ABC News' trusted reporting, is a premium, narrative non-fiction original production house and commissioning partner of series and specials. ABC News Studios champions untold and authentic stories driving the cultural zeitgeist spanning true-crime, investigations, pop culture and news-adjacent stories. ABC News Studios' original titles include critically acclaimed documentaries "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," "The Lady Bird Diaries," "Aftershock" and "The Murders Before the Marathon" as well as compelling docu-series, including "Killing County," "Wild Crime," "Death in the Dorms" and "Mormon No More."

About Meralta Films

Meralta Films is a Los Angeles and Mumbai based production company founded by the Oscar and Emmy nominated director/producer, Smriti Mundhra. The company is focused on creating premium fiction and non-fiction content from the perspective of the global majority. Recent projects include the Oscar nominated and Critics' Choice Award winning documentary St. Louis Superman (Paramount+), Emmy nominated series Indian Matchmaking (Netflix), DGA Award and AFI Docs Audience Award winning, NAACP Image Award and Emmy Award nominated documentary Shelter (HBO Max) and the IDA Award nominated Eyes On The Prize: Hallowed Ground (HBO Max). The company has unscripted and scripted projects in development with Apple TV+, HBO Max, Netflix, MTV, Chernin Entertainment, and others.





  [may 2023]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· INDIAN MATCHMAKING (NETFLIX)
· MUSLIM MATCHMAKER (HULU)





[11/26/24 - 12:03 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Nov. 18: "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Man on the Inside" Take the Top Spots
Season 2 of the animated series "Arcane" laid siege to #2 (6.4M views), while Season 1 took #5 with 2.2M views.

[11/26/24 - 11:44 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "Evolve and Flex" with Lance Fresh Friday, Dec. 6, on truTV and Max
The show is hosted by sports-lifestyle expert Lance Fresh and features candid conversations with guests to discuss how life's events have contributed to their sense of style.

[11/26/24 - 11:19 AM]
MGM+ Announces 2025 Premiere Date for "NFL Icons" Season Four
In the upcoming fourth season, the docuseries will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana, DeMarcus Ware, Kurt Warner and Gale Sayers.

[11/26/24 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Rogue Heroes" (MGM+ 2025 Series) Season 2 Tease
"Rogue Heroes" is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

[11/26/24 - 10:09 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of Hit Australian Drama, "Darby and Joan"
The new season debuts with a two-episode premiere, exclusively on Acorn TV, on December 30, followed by weekly episodes through January 27.

[11/26/24 - 10:01 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Fourth Season of Hit True-Crime Series "Wild Crime," Streaming Dec. 5 Only on Hulu
"Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls" delves into the haunting 2012 disappearance of Samantha Koenig, an 18-year-old Anchorage barista last seen leaving her place of work with an unknown man on a dark winter night.

[11/26/24 - 08:32 AM]
Bravo Greenlights "Vanderpump Rules" Season 12 with a New Group of SUR-vers
In addition, "Vanderpump Rules" will celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past 11 seasons.

[11/26/24 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Reveal Teaser, First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "Henry Danger The Movie"
"Henry Danger The Movie" will be available to stream in the U.S. on Paramount+ Friday, January 17, and premiere on Nickelodeon that same day at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Makayla is a teenage girl who has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal until her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter's potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla's inner world.

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Announces Ian Bonhote & Peter Ettedgui's Award-Winning "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," Debuting December 7 on HBO and Max
The critically acclaimed film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and recently won six Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

[11/26/24 - 08:00 AM]
HGTV Greenlights Gutsy Las Vegas Renovation Series "Sin City Rehab" (wt) Starring Indomitable Designer Alison Victoria
The eight-episode series will document Alison, best known for her Emmy-nominated series "Windy City Rehab," taking the biggest gamble of her career as she expands her successful design business out West.

[11/26/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Manny" Season 2 - Release Date Announcement - Netflix
A busy executive hires a cowboy to care for her kids in a moment of panic. Little does she know he'll challenge her views of gender roles - and of love.

[11/26/24 - 06:58 AM]
"The Talk" Series Finale to Air Live on Friday, December 20
Over the show's 15 season run, "The Talk" will have aired 2,993 episodes, garnered over 70 awards/nominations, promoted over 10,800 guests, gifted over $103 million in giveaways, and welcomed over 250,000 audience members.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
"Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" Will Debut Early - Watch the Two-Episode Premiere Streaming December 2 Only on Disney+!
Look for new weekly episodes every Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. PT on December 10.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
Paramount+ Sets December 9 Premiere for Docuseries on American Soccer Star Christian Pulisic
The first episode will premiere in December, while episodes two and three will premiere in January.