MUMBAI: Fox Star Studios continues its effort to deepen its connect with Indian audiences with a comedy drama Guddu Rangeela.

The movie will bring together director Subhash Kapoor and actor Arshad Warsi of Jolly LLB, a hit courtroom comedy from last year. Production is by Sangeeta Ahir of Mangal Films.

Shooting in Shimla, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and other locations in North India gets underway in March 2014. A theatrical release is targeted in the first quarter of 2015. An ensemble cast also includes actors Amit Sadh (Kai Po Che) and Aditi Rao Hydari (BOSS).

Fox Star Studios is the five-year-old joint venture between 21st Century Fox’s Indian pay-TV market leader Star Television and Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox. With 28 movies (9 Hindi, 4 Tamil, and 15 Hollywood pictures, from Fox and DreamWorks Animation) this year the studio certainly intends to increase its presence in India.

“Jolly LLB, with Arshad and Subhash, was our first independent production and its critical and commercial success has reinforced the fact that our vision to create high concept yet entertaining cinema has found resonance with the audiences worldwide,” said Fox Star Studios CEO Vijay Singh in a prepared statement.

FSS’s Indian slate includes a three movie deal with Vishesh Films, alliances with Pooja Entertainment and Films, Phantom Films, Illuminati Films and a deal with Endemol India to deliver Traffic. Other highlights include Omen Remake, directed by Vishal Mahadkar set for a 14 September release, and Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet set for a Christmas Day 2014 outing.