Over the past fortnight, rumours abounded about Karan Johar backing a movie on freedom fighter Usha Mehta. The brave achievements of the 20th century freedom fighter have inspired another storyteller. It is heard that Ketan Mehta, nephew to Mehta, is developing a film on the Gandhian who had helped establish Congress Radio. The underground radio station amplified Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peaceful rebellion during the Quit India movement.

The director’s penchant for biopics is known, having made Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005) and Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015) in recent years. A source says that the filmmaker is drafting the final script. “Ketan has simultaneously begun pre-production, and aims to kick off the film by late 2021. He has narrowed down his choices for the lead to Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar. Given the actors’ busy date diaries after the second lockdown, the casting will be locked by November.”

Mehta remained unavailable for comment till press time.