Actor will play Suryakant Bhande Patil, one of India’s top detectives who has solved 120 child-kidnapping cases for free, in his next
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 6, 2018)

Emraan Hashmi is all set to adapt the inspiring real-life story of India’s top detective, Suryakant Bhande Patil, who has solved 120 child kidnapping cases for free, for the screen. Titled Father’s Day, this emotional father-son story is based on a book, Drishyam Adrishyam, by Gujarati author Praful Shah. Directed by debutant Shantanu Baagchi, who has over 300 ad films to his credit, with screenplay and dialogue by Ritesh Shah, who penned Airlift, Pink and Raid, the film will be jointly produced by Emraan, Priya Gupta and Kalpana Udyawar.

Confirming the news, Emraan says, “Suryakant ji’s story is heartbreaking but very inspiring. It’s rare to find a person who has dedicated his whole life to helping find the kidnapped children of others, that too for free. I am proud to be playing him in the film.”

The Pune-based civil engineer has been collaborating closely with cops, not just in Pune but also in Mumbai, to trace missing children and has even set up a website dedicated to them. He started his detective agency, Spy Sanket, in 1999 after an incident changed the direction of his life.

Shantanu points out that there are few films which entertain, fewer yet which move you deeply and even fewer that change the way you look at life. “This film does all three and the wonderful thing is that the inspiring story is based on the life of a real person,” says the director. Shantanu and Priya have known each other for a decade. When he brought the story to her three months ago, she knew immediately that it had to be made. “This is a great time for content-driven cinema. I had been meeting people in my search of an interesting story. This one will make for a thrilling and emotional film as it deals with the important subject of child safety which has been touched upon internationally in films like the Oscar nominated 2013 thriller, Prisoners, but that was pure fiction. In Hindi cinema we have dealt with it perfunctorily. What makes it even more inspiring is that we are dealing with facts here,” Priya avers.

What’s Suryakant, now 55, like as a person, you wonder, and she describes him as a simple man, warm and down-to-earth. “He’s also very sharp. He will scan you from head to toe in one glance and know instantly what you are all about,” she reveals.

Talking about her choice of Emraan to play Suryakant when he was 35, Priya points out that he is a fantastic actor who will be seen in such an emotional role for the first time. “Emraan loved the script and as soon as the narration ended, gave his nod to the film. You will see him cry and he will make you cry too,” she promises.

She adds that all four of them — Emraan, Shantanu, Ritesh and she — are passionate parents. “My child is the most important person in the world for me. My blood turns cold at the thought of him being kidnapped. Not knowing where he is, if he is being abused or has been drugged, if he’s been forced into child labour or hiding somewhere lost and hungry, if he’s alive or dead, would be the most traumatic thing ever. I wouldn’t be able to eat, sleep or even live,” she admits, adding that there are two kids in the film who have yet to be cast. Are they looking in the direction of Emraan’s own son, Ayaan? “Not yet. But one thing is for sure, Ayaan is a rockstar and will be one some day soon,” she smiles. The film will be shot next year across Maharashtra.