Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic: Rajamouli Gets a 'No', Aamir Khan Gets the Nod!
The biopic on the "Father of Indian Cinema," Dadasaheb Phalke, has become a hot topic in the film industry, with prominent figures from Bollywood and Tollywood showing keen interest in bringing his life story to the big screen. Reports initially suggested that renowned director S. S. Rajamouli would present a film titled Made in India, based on the life of Dadasaheb Phalke. It was further reported that the film would be jointly produced by Rajamouli’s son Karthikeya and Varun Gupta, directed by Nitin Kakkar, and feature N. T. Rama Rao Jr. in the lead role.
Allegedly, after hearing the story, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. gave his immediate approval, which has rekindled interest in the Dadasaheb Phalke biopic. Images depicting N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Dadasaheb Phalke have gone viral. The storyline is said to chronicle the birth and evolution of Indian cinema, presenting it to a global audience. The announcement has reportedly delighted fans of N. T. Rama Rao Jr.
However, shortly after these developments, Bollywood media reported that Aamir Khan had also announced a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke. According to the reports, Aamir Khan will play the titular role, and the film will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani.
It is understood that Rajkumar Hirani, along with Abhijat Joshi, Hindukush Bharadwaj, and Aavishkar Bharadwaj, has been working on the script for this project for the past four years. Aamir Khan is expected to begin work on the biopic immediately after the release of Taare Zameen Par, with filming likely to commence in October this year.
With both Tollywood and Bollywood heavyweights making announcements, there is now widespread discussion about who will ultimately produce the definitive Dadasaheb Phalke biopic.
Amid these developments, Dadasaheb Phalke’s grandson Chandrashekhar Sreekrishna recently commented on the situation. In an interview, he clarified that S. S. Rajamouli’s team had not contacted him, whereas Aamir Khan’s team had been consistently engaging with him over the past four years.
"I have heard the reports that a project under director S. S. Rajamouli’s presentation is in development. However, neither he nor his team has spoken to me so far. If anyone intends to make a film on Phalke, they must at least consult the family, as we possess the most detailed knowledge about him," said Chandrashekhar Sreekrishna.
He added, "The Aamir Khan–Rajkumar Hirani team has discussed the project with us several times. Their assistant producer has been in touch with me for three years. They have been working sincerely on this project for four years and have sought detailed information. I am glad that Aamir Khan is portraying Phalke, as he is a great actor and works with dedication. I believe actress Vidya Balan would be a good choice to play Phalke’s wife Saraswatibai Phalke."