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Real life, reel take

STRAP: Some of them make you cry while others motivate, but bipoics never fail to impress. Here’ s a look at some of the upcoming ones…

Gurnaaz Kaur

Just one meeting can create a story. And many such great stories have been adapted on film. No one minds some inspiring real stories that have left footprints on the sands of time. Credit it to the visual appeal or the compelling tales of famous people, but biopics have been a mainstay in the Bollywood landscape for a long time. Here’s a line up of some of the upcoming biopics.

High pitch

Not her first, Taapsee Pannu will be seen essaying the role of Mithali Raj, the captain of Indian women’s cricket team in the biopic Shabaash Mithu. Based on the life and struggles of the cricketer and how she made the nation proud, the film has been directed by Rahul Dhalokia. We’ve already seen the trailer and Taapsee has given a glimpse of her preparations for the role on Instagram.

Cult figure

Acharya Rajneesh, also known as Osho, is among the most popular yet controversial figures of India. Many documentaries have been made on his life and beliefs, and this time around it is a Hindi film on the spiritual guru. Titled Secrets of Love, actor-politician Ravi Kishan will play the lead role in this film being directed by Ritesh S Kumar.

Positive note

Talking of spiritual gurus, just two days ago Karan Johar announced a film on the early life of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Titled Free, the film, as Karan Johar says, aims to spread positivity. He even shared the first-look poster. It will be directed by Montoo Bassi and will get adapted in 21 languages with a global release in more than 100 countries.

Brave soul

Scheduled to release on July 2, Shershaah reveals the untold story of Army officer and Param Vir Chakra awardee Vikram Batra. Portraying the brave journey of the Kargil War hero is Sidharth Malhotra and the film also stars Kiara Advani. It has been helmed by Tamil director Vishnu Varadhan, who marks his Bollywood debut with the film.

Fearless patriot

When last year Vicky Kaushal released a few pictures of his new look as Field Marshal Sam Maekshaw, it broke the internet! And last month, the actor took to his Instagram handle to announce the title of the film that unfolds the journey of the fearless patriot. Called Sam Bahadur, the project is the second collaboration between director Meghna Gulzar and Kaushal after their 2017 blockbuster Raazi. Sam has been written by Bhavani Iyer and is produced Ronnie Screwvala.

History revisited

Shoojit Sircar’s dream project, Sardar Udham Singh was announced in March 2019. Stepping in the shoes of the revolutionary freedom fighter is yet again Vicky Kaushal. Sporting a vintage look, dressed in an overcoat with a hat and a wound scar on his right cheek, he looks intense in the avatar. The period drama highlights Udham Singh’s role in the assassination of Micheal O’Dwyer in London to take revenge for Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. The film has been shot in Russia, UK, Europe, Ireland, Germany and North India. It was wrapped up in December 2019 and is yet to be released.

What a kick!

One on the golden era of Indian football, Maidaan is a film where Ajay Devgn will play the role of football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, under whose leadership India won the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962. The film is directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma and is produced by Boney Kapoor, and others. The film is said to be in its last leg and is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 15.

Political circles

Thalaivi is an upcoming film that documents the life and times of the late politician J Jayalalithaa, who from being a movie star transitioned into a politician and served six terms as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Kangana Ranaut will essay the lead role. She has gotten into the skin of the character and we’ve seen that in the official trailer!

Bold role

The first look of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi made waves on social media. Loosely based on a true story inspired from the book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai, the film narrates the life of a simple girl and how she becomes a brothel owner. To see Alia Bhatt in a bold role was another topic of discussion amongst the netizens.