India to get its own version of 'The Office'

Wernham Hogg will become Wilkins Chawla in the Indian version of The Office.

Ricky Gervais as David Brent.

Ricky Gervais as David Brent. Source: AAP

Mockumentary sitcom The Office is being remade in India, according to the BBC.

The BBC announced in a statement that the Indian adaptation will retain a similar format to Ricky Gervais' original series which first screened in 2001.

"Wernham Hogg becomes Wilkins Chawla, a paper company, as (the show) ... follows Indian boss Jagdeep Chaddha and his hapless attempts to inspire and motivate a reluctant workforce," it said.

"And the Slough trading estate of the home version becomes an industrial park on the far outskirts of Faridabad, a satellite town of New Delhi."
Finland's version of The Office, titled Konttori.
Finland's version of The Office, titled Konttori. Source: Facebook - Konttori
"Amidst the corporate-grey interiors of the office lies the budding romance between Junior Sales Officer Amit Sharma, who finds himself drawn to Pammi the receptionist, but holds back from revealing his feelings because she is engaged to be married to someone else."

The show has already been adapted in Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Finland, and the US.

Ricky Gervais said in the statement that "I'm always excited and flattered to see remakes of my work".
The Office became La Ofis in Chile.
The Office became La Ofis in Chile. Source: YouTube - Canal 13
Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment - which is working on the Indian adaptation - said he hoped the series would succeed in the nation of more than one billion people.

"After all, who hasn't come across workmates like David Brent or Gareth at some point in their lives," he said, referring to title characters.

But it remains to be seen how well the water cooler-based humour will travel - as in India it is estimated that up to 85 per cent of people work in the informal sector.


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Published 23 February 2018 9:02pm
Updated 23 February 2018 11:39pm
By Nick Baker

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