Steve Lightfoot is one of the creators of AppleTV+'s new show Shantaram, a series based on the novel of the same name by Gregory David Roberts. Shantaram follows Lin (Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam), a convict who makes his way Bombay in the 1980s to start a new life. There, he meets a slew of new people who will shape the way he sees the world, his past choices, and his future.
Lightfoot has served as a producer and writer on various high-profile television shows throughout his career. Some of his most notable work includes stints on Hannibal, The Punisher, and Behind Her Eyes. Shantaram's 12-episode first season premiered on October 14.
Screen Rant caught up with Lightfoot ahead of the premiere of Shantaram to discuss collaborating with Roberts, how Shantaram has always been something he wanted to make, and what it's like to see the series released after a tumultuous production.
Lightfoot on Shantaram
Screen Rant: How did you come across Gregory [David Roberts'] book and what about the story made you want to bring it to the screen?
Steve Lightfoot: I bought the book in about 2004 or 2005 - whenever it came out in the UK. I actually saw it in a bookshop, and was like, wow, that looks interesting. And so I'd read it and loved it. And I'd always kept this copy of it, brought it when I moved to the US from the UK - it came with me. And I'd read it two or three times over the years. I was a fan. So when the call came to talk about adapting it, I couldn't believe my luck. I remember years ago, when I was first starting in the industry, the thing has been in development forever, and I was kind of jealous. I felt like, oh, man, I'm so far away from that, and, as fate would have it, 15 years later, it came my way.
Charlie sat down with Gregory, but were you able to chat with him? And if so, what kind of conversations did you have with him regarding the source material?
Steve Lightfoot: Yeah, I did talk to him quite a lot early on. Greg was incredibly generous in that he was like, I'm here, talk to me about anything. On the other hand, he very much [knew] it's got to be its own thing. So he very much was like, go make it what you want it to be, but I'm here if you want me. And so I talked to him a lot early on. And because I think, in the end, we were adapting the book. And it's such an amazing story and narrative, I personally didn't feel the need to get into what was true and what wasn't because it's a novel. He himself was there, [but] it's fiction and I thought that's what had moved people.
A lot of the insights were just, in a way, more about the character of Lin he had written than his own life. But he's one of the smartest people I've ever, spoken to. He's a far smarter man than I, and he's insightful about everything. But his take on India was just amazing. We tried to get that in there. And then just that sense of someone who'd done bad stuff [and] was just trying to make amends. That idea of trying to find redemption.
You all went through a bit of a rough production from what I read - stopping, restarting, switching locations. How does it feel to finally be on the precipice of release [and] see the final product going out into the world soon?
Steve Lightfoot: I'm really excited. I'm very proud of it. It's sort of two things I'm incredibly proud of. And it was a huge team effort. I'm incredibly proud of everyone involved for just getting it made. And then even more proud, because I not only to get it made, but it's actually a pretty good show. There's a huge pride in the achievement, and then I just really hope people are entertained. I's sort of all for nothing unless the audience enjoys it, you know?
About Shantaram
Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Gregory David Roberts, “Shantaram” follows a fugitive named Lin Ford (Charlie Hunnam) looking to get lost in vibrant and chaotic 1980s Bombay. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Lin struggles to avoid the trouble he’s running from in this new place. After falling for an enigmatic and intriguing woman named Karla, Lin must choose between freedom or love and the complications that come with it.
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New episodes of Shantaram release Fridays on AppleTV+.