EXCLUSIVE: Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) and Chandni Shah (Barbie) have joined the CBS multi-cam comedy pilot Zarna cast alongside lead Zarna Garg, who co-writes and co-executive produces with Darlene Hunt.
Zarna centers on the eponymous heroine Zarna (Garg), a proud immigrant woman raising her American-born kids on Indian values. But now that they’re getting older, it’s time to focus on her American dream.
The story reflects Garg’s own story as an immigrant from India who moves to the U.S. as a teenager. After getting BA and JD degrees, she spent 16 years as a stay-at-home mom before her children encouraged her to try stand-up, launching her comedy career.
Manji has been cast as Kishore, a successful Wall Street investor and Zarna’s husband of more than 20 years. Shah joins as Asha, a freshman at Columbia University and the eldest daughter of Zarna and Kishore.
Hunt, who serves as showrunner, and Garg executive produce Zarna with Mindy Kaling and Jessica Kumai Scott via Kaling International; Howard Klein via 3 Arts; as well as Hart, Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat. Warner Bros. Television is the studio.
Manji is repped by Paradigm and 3 Arts Entertainment.
Shah is repped by CESD and Brave Artists Management.