BOMBAY TIMES (June 22, 2019)

One of India’s premiere content studios, Viacom18 Studios, in association with Aamir Khan Productions, has announced their upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha, which is inspired by the Oscar-winning movie, Forrest Gump (1994). The Hollywood film was headlined by Tom Hanks, who bagged the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal as Gump. While Aamir Khan will essay the titular role in the Indian adaptation of the film, Kareena Kapoor Khan will star opposite him for the third time. The hit duo has previously shared screen space in 3 Idiots and Talaash.

Laal Singh Chaddha will be directed by Advait Chandan of Secret Superstar fame and is being written by actor-writer Atul Kulkarni. The film releases on Christmas 2020. Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios, says, “It gives me immense pleasure to announce our upcoming venture with Aamir Khan. For every cinephile out there, their must-watch list of films would be incomplete without Forrest Gump. To be able to adapt the classic for Indian audiences is a long-cherished dream for many of us. Knowing Aamir’s burning passion for this subject for many years, he is the perfect partner to bring to life this dream. I also want to thank Jim Gianopulos and Andrew Gumpert (from Paramount Pictures) and their team for believing in our vision and continuously supporting all endeavours to bring some of their best content to the Indian markets.”

“We’re thrilled to see them bring this timeless story to a whole new generation of audiences,” said Andrew Gumpert, Chief Operating Officer of Paramount Pictures.

For those who came in late, Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name authored by Winston Groom. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump (Hanks), a slow-witted but kind-hearted man from Alabama, who unwittingly influences several defining historical events in the 20th century in the United States. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis.