After a remarkable journey through the international film festival circuit, the DHARM TV series is officially preparing to begin production on its highly anticipated first season. Following widespread recognition for its pilot episode and a successful year of festival screenings, the series is scheduled to commence filming in October 2026.
The pilot episode of DHARM made its world premiere at the Big Apple Film Festival, where it received an enthusiastic response from audiences and industry professionals alike. The screening was featured in the same festival segment as a film starring Josh Radnor, best known for his role in the Emmy Award-winning sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The festival lineup also included actress Aya Cash, acclaimed for portraying Stormfront in the hit series The Boys, placing DHARM alongside an impressive slate of internationally recognized productions.
The series continued to build momentum with an official selection at the Festival of Cinema NYC, a festival celebrated for supporting emerging New York filmmakers and original storytelling. The pilot was not only screened but also earned a Best Episodic nomination, recognizing its compelling narrative and creative execution.
Adding to its growing list of accolades, DHARM received an Official Selection at the Manhattan Film Festival, where the pilot was screened for festival audiences. The project was also selected by the Chelsea Film Festival. Although it was ultimately not screened due to the festival’s premiere-status policy, the official selection highlighted the series’ growing recognition within the independent film and television community.
Beyond its official screenings, the pilot was also circulated among prestigious festivals including the SoHo International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Sundance Film Festival, further increasing its industry visibility and establishing DHARM as a promising new television project.
With a successful festival run behind it, DHARM is now ready to transition from an acclaimed pilot to a full television series. All season will be produced by Grapevine Productions in association with FA 36 Productions.
The series will be directed by Harsh Gupta and Dalit Merenfeld, while Kamesh Karna will serve as editor. Leading the cast is Dharmendra Singh Chandel, who will portray the title character, Dharm. Chandel’s performance is expected to anchor the series as it brings the story to life for television audiences.
Production on the first episode is scheduled to begin in October 2026, marking an exciting milestone for the creative team and everyone involved in the project.
Having earned recognition across respected film festivals and generated strong interest through its award-nominated pilot, DHARM enters production with considerable momentum. As the series prepares to move from the festival circuit to television screens, it represents an exciting new chapter for its filmmakers and cast. With an accomplished creative team, growing industry recognition, and Dharmendra Singh Chandel leading the series in the role of Dharm, the production is well positioned to make a lasting impression when Season 1 begins filming later this year.
