The Far Pavilions

The Far Pavilions was a 5¼ hour TV adaptation of the M.M. Kaye novel that takes place in 19th century India. In the US it was televised by HBO which, at that time, was still somewhat in its infancy. It starred Ben Cross who was hot property at that time. Over the span of a few years he did Chariots Of Fire, The Flame Trees Of Thika, The Citadel, and then the Far Pavilions. Christopher Lee and Omar Sharif were also in this.
Amy Irving had the female lead. Looking back that seems kind of out of place in a big production like this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Far_Pavilions
Of all the big "India" productions at that time (Ghandi, The Jewel In The Crown, A Passage To India, The Last Viceroy) this one probably had the least exposure.