Actor Dev Patel has launched his own production company, Minor Realm, which has a mission to “explore and develop the creative landscape of voices and talent that too often are unrecognized, bringing these stories to life in a larger way”.

Patel has already made two hires for the new banner — Sony Pictures’ Lakshmi Iyengar and producer Samarth Sahni, who will both report directly to Patel.

According to The Variety, Minor Realm will focus on both films and television, already has a first-look deal with ShivHans Pictures, and developing and creating projects with ShivHans’ CEO and founder Shivani Rawat and president of production Julie Goldstein.

Iyengar most recently served as Sony Pictures’ vice president of worldwide acquisitions and production, working on films including ‘Ammonite’,  ‘Late Night’ and ‘The Wedding Guest’, in which Patel starred.

Iyengar and Sahni will be based in Los Angeles.