Math genius wants to approve the actor and music, too!
Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 19, 2016)

World- renowned mathematical genius Anand Kumar, whose ‘Super 30’ coaching scheme has revolutionized the lives of under-privileged maths students all over India, finally has a biopic happening. More relieved than happy, Anand says, “After the fiasco of Anurag Basu’s proposed film on me, I was very careful about whom I said yes to. Vinay Sinha and his daughter Priti Sinha, who are producing the film on me, struck me as sincere people. When they asked me if I would like the biopic to be directed by Vikas Bahl, I readily agreed.”

Anand has laid down certain pre-conditions, “The music has to be of my choice and the actor playing me has to be approved by me. Also, the producers have agreed to share a part of the profits with me for funding my students.” He reveals that Priyanka Chopra had come to him with the offer to produce a biopic. But the project and the budget were way too small to reach out to a large audience.

Anand is somewhat agitated by his Bollywood experience. Anurag Basu had shown a keen interest in making a biopic on Anand Kumar. Let alone make progress, there is still no sign of any movement on that front. Anand, who is a legend in his state of Bihar and is considered one of the finest living mathematician the world over, sounded somewhat nonplussed. “I don’t know what has happened with Anurag’s project. He showed great keenness to do a film on my life. He came several times to Patna to meet me. I also visited him in Mumbai several times. More than Anurag, it is his wonderful wife Taani who was a great support in carrying the project forward. But now, that film on me seems to be stuck.”

Anand says he has heard that Anurag is doing other projects. “First, I was told he is making a film on Kishore Kumar. Then that got delayed and he’s now making a detective film with Ranbir Kapoor. I wish he had told me he was not doing the film on my life.”