Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker is set to direct a premium drama-based documentary series Temple Raiders, which will explore the global network involved in the theft and smuggling of India’s sacred temple artefacts. The project is being produced by Tudip Entertainment and Riverland Entertainment in association with Ashutosh Gowarikar Productions.
Ashutosh Gowarikar to direct docu-drama Temple Raiders based on stolen temple artefacts
Set largely as a docu-drama, Temple Raiders aims to combine fact-based storytelling with cinematic treatment. The series will focus on real events and present them through a structured narrative format designed to engage a wide audience. It is written, produced and produced by Raghav Khanna, who has previously been associated with documentary projects such as The Elephant Whispers, The Mumbai Mafia and The Hunt for Veerappan.
For Gowariker, this series is his first foray into the documentary format after directing large-scale historical films for years. Speaking about the project he said, “I have been watching documentaries in a variety of genres for many years, and the documentary form has always fascinated me deeply. I have often thought about making one, but never found a subject that really appealed to me.” He said he immediately liked the concept of Temple Raiders, calling it “a topic that has been quietly simmering for years.”
The director further revealed that the series will examine the long-standing issue of idol theft across India, as well as explore the large international networks behind such crimes. He said, “I would like to present it as a 4-episode docu-series… bringing together facts, personal engagement and storytelling in a compelling way.”
Khanna described the project as a layered narrative where “trust and greed collide,” adding that it aimed to expand the scale and emotional depth of documentary storytelling. According to the producers, the show will incorporate multiple cinematic genres to create an immersive viewing experience while remaining based on real events.
Producers associated with the project have highlighted its cultural relevance, noting that the series seeks to foster broader conversations about heritage conservation and the historical significance of temple artefacts. With a mix of investigative storytelling and dramatic elements, Temple Raiders is positioned as part of a growing trend of high-concept documentary series for a global audience.
