Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 6, 2017)

Kangana Ranaut is set to portray Arunima Sinha, the world’s first woman amputee to scale Mount Everest, on the big screen. The biopic, which was to be helmed by Farhan Akhtar earlier, will now be backed by another production house.

A source tells mid-day, “The makers were to decide between Kriti Sanon and Kangana. Since the latter’s schedule looked packed because she’s shooting for Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, they were skeptical. But Arunima took the final call on the lead.”

The insider adds that Ranaut’s schedule has been worked out, because her directorial debut, Teju, has been delayed further. “The biopic on Arunima will be shot in a straight 60-day schedule. Kangana is currently shooting for the Rani Lakshmibai biopic in Jaipur. Once the schedule ends in December, she will sign on the dotted line. The director will be finalised in a month.”

Sinha, 29, is a national level volleyball player, who was pushed out of a running train by robbers in 2011 while she resisted them. The film’s scripting has begun and she is closely associated with the process. The project goes on floors by March next year.

Kangana’s spokesperson refused to comment on the casting.