Showing posts with label Sandeep Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandeep Singh. Show all posts
Bhumi Pednekar to play warrior queen Belawadi Mallamma in The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
2:49 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 27, 2026)
Bhumi Satish Pednekkar has come on board the cast of The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The actress will portray Belawadi Mallamma, the warrior queen of Karnataka, in the historical drama headlined by Rishab Shetty, who essays the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Bhumi says, “I’m honoured to be part of a film on the life and legacy of the great Maratha warrior-king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It’s a privilege for me to play Karnataka’s brave warrior queen, Belawadi Mallamma, and bring her to life on screen. I am a huge Kantara fan, and Rishab Shetty’s stunning performance blew me away. So, the moment Sandeep narrated the film, the actor in me instantly said yes. This is unlike anything I’ve done before, and I’m grateful to the makers for seeing me in a completely new light.”
Directed and produced by Sandeep Singh, The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a two-part saga. The film also stars Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi and is set to go on floors later this year.
As reported by us earlier, following Pritam’s decision to take a break from mainstream music, the makers roped in Amit Trivedi to compose the music for the historical drama.
A source had shared with us, “The team believes Amit Trivedi’s ability to blend powerful orchestration with deeply rooted Indian melodies makes him an ideal fit for the film’s vision. The music has to capture Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s courage, vision, legacy and the emotional heartbeat of the story. The makers were looking for a composer who could balance scale with emotion, and they are confident Amit’s music will elevate the film’s narrative while staying true to its historical essence.”
Amit Trivedi to compose for Rishab Shetty’s historical epic The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj after Pritam’s exit
2:46 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 1, 2026)
Pritam’s decision to take a break from mainstream music prompted the makers of The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to rope in Amit Trivedi for their upcoming historical drama. The composer, who was originally set to helm the music, announced his decision in a birthday post on Instagram last month, revealing that he wanted to “live life differently” and explore “roads unexplored” after years in the mainstream.
With Pritam stepping away from the project, Amit has now come on board to score the music for director Sandeep Singh’s two-part historical saga, starring National Award-winning actor Rishab Shetty as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
According to a source close to the production, Amit’s musical sensibilities made him a good fit for the project. The source says, “The team believes Amit Trivedi’s ability to blend powerful orchestration with deeply rooted Indian melodies makes him an ideal fit for the film’s vision. The music has to capture Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s courage, vision, legacy and the emotional heartbeat of the story.”
Led by Kantara star Rishab Shetty in the titular role, the two-part historical saga, with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi, also features Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi. It is expected to go on floors later this year.
In his birthday note last month, Pritam thanked fans for their wishes and reflected on wanting to make space for new experiences in life. “Thank you for all the wishes. Can’t answer everyone individually, but please accept my sincere gratitude. Today, I have decided to gift myself a few years to live life differently. To catch up on what I’ve missed.” He further hinted at pursuing long-delayed aspirations and interests beyond his mainstream work.
His post read further, “Time to set off on new journeys, which have been kept on the back burner for long. Mainstream is a great ride, But I’ve always been more curious about the roads unexplored. Thank you for all the love & support, Always.”
Chhatrapati Shivaji is a national hero; I feel immense pride in bringing his story to the screen-Rishab Shetty
2:36 PM
Sridevi S (BOMBAY TIMES; December 6, 2024)
Rishab Shetty is stacking up some interesting roles in the near future. After wrapping up Kantara Chapter 1, he is expected to join Prasanth Varma’s Jai Hanuman, and post that, he will be playing the titular role in Sandeep Singh’s historical saga, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
In an exclusive chat with Bangalore Times, the national-award-winning actor, revealed that besides the two films, he has two more projects in the line-up, and one of them will make Kannadigas very, very proud. “My plate is full, but not overflowing,” Rishab says. Excerpts:
‘Playing Shivaji is an honour beyond words’
Every actor’s dream is to explore different characters, says Rishab. “I am glad that opportunities are knocking on my door. I haven’t ventured out or sought these roles intentionally. They are coming to me, and I feel so privileged to have achieved this. Shivaji’s life and legacy have always fascinated me, and there is a deep sense of pride in being associated with such a great historical figure. Opportunities like biopics come only once in a lifetime. As an actor and a performer, I feel that it’s an honour to bring his story to life on the big screen. Sandeep’s vision for the film was so grand, that as soon as I heard the film, I said yes without blinking an eyelid. He is a national hero whose impact transcends history, and I feel immense pride in bringing his story to the screen. And to put myself in the shoes of one of the most revered iconic characters of Indian history is a blessing in itself,” he explains.
‘I know this biopic will be full of drama, grandeur and emotions’
Back in time, there was no concept of nations, only Kingdoms. So, for me, the chance to share Shivaji’s life with people is appealing. As actors, we look for scripts that excite the audience and that have a storyline peppered with ample drama, grandeur, and emotions, and I can say with confidence that this will be one such film.
‘For the next two years, I am dedicated to being a director’s actor’
Rishab reveals that besides these two magnum opus projects, he has signed two more films that he will be working on in the next two years.
“I cannot reveal much, but among the two, one of them is going to make Kannadigas very proud. Post Kantara Chapter 1, I am not directing any films anytime soon, and I will only be acting in all four projects. I am looking forward to bringing my directors’ visions on screen for the next two years.”
Sandeep Singh informed Shah Rukh Khan, and he was quite happy about Fauji 2-Vicky Jain
2:10 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 19, 2024)
After his stint in multiple reality shows with his wife, actor Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain is all set to venture into his partner’s profession. The businessman is making his TV acting debut with the show Fauji 2, and he is quite excited about it: “I’m fortunate enough to be acting. By now, I have gained a little experience in facing the camera. So, that was not difficult, but I must say that acting is a serious business. Usually, Ankita helps me out. This is the first time she’s not around, and I had that fear in my mind. But then she told me that it’s my time to just go out and have fun.”
Crediting his wife for her full support, Jain says, “Ankita has been my rock. She boosts my confidence saying, ‘Yes, you can do it and I’m going to be there’.”
Fauji 2 takes the legacy of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s acting debut project (Fauji, 1989) ahead, and Jain says that they have the superstar’s approval: “Sandeep (Singh, producer) informed him, and he was quite happy about it. We might visit him soon and take his blessings.”
Ask Jain why the show chose to air on Doordarshan and not on any General Entertainment Channels (GEC) or OTT platforms and he says, “The TRP of Doordarshan is much bigger than any other GEC because it is widely watched in remote areas, where cables and dishes are still non-existent. Secondly, Doordarshan is planning to reinvent themselves. They are planning to come with their OTT channel as well.”
Swantantrya Veer Savarkar not official selection for Oscars, confirms FFI president Ravi Kottakara
9:05 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 26, 2024)
Confusion around India’s official submission to the Oscars started on Tuesday morning, when the makers of Swantantrya Veer Savarkar announced that their film had been “officially submitted” to the Oscars, thanking the FFI for “this remarkable appreciation.” This came a day after the FFI (Film Federation Of India) announced Laapataa Ladies as this year’s submission.
When HT City reached out to FFI president Ravi Kottakara, he laughed at the claim, saying, “They (the makers) have given some wrong communication... Only Laapataa Ladies has been sent for Oscars from India officially.”
The announcement was a collab Instagram post by co-producer Sandeep Singh, and the film’s production houses and actor Ankita Lokhande. However, director and lead actor Randeep Hooda did not share any updates on his social media. A source close to the situation told us, “This is very shady. Even a quote attributed to Randeep was given out in press releases when he has not given a quote.”
We tried to reach out to Hooda, but he was unavailable for comment. There was no response from Singh and Lokhande either.
--------------------------------------------------
I didn’t know when the film was submitted; I was told about it on Monday. Going to the Oscars is a big milestone. I am, of course, very happy.
- ANAND PANDIT, CO-PRODUCER OF THE FILM
Sandeep Singh slams Scam 2010 team; reveals that Sahara India Pariwar to take legal action
8:31 AM
Revealing that Scam producer had approached him to turn Subrata Roy’s story into series’ third chapter, filmmaker Singh slams team for adapting book on the business tycoon while his biopic is still in the making
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 18, 2024)
A young man, who apparently sold salted snacks on his scooter in Gorakhpur, rises to establish a multi-billion dollar conglomerate. But his dramatic rise is soon eclipsed by an equally dramatic downfall. The life of the late Subrata Roy, the Sahara Group founder, was in equal parts fascinating and controversial. No wonder then, it has caught the attention of two filmmakers. While producer Sandeep Singh had announced the business tycoon’s biopic, Saharasri, in 2020, filmmaker Hansal Mehta announced Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga on Thursday. The third edition of Mehta’s successful OTT series is based on Tamal Bandyopadhyay’s book, Sahara: The Untold Story.
The recent announcement has sent Singh into a tizzy. “I was shocked when Hansal and Sameer [Nair, Applause Entertainment, producer] announced Scam 3 based on Saharasri’s life. Regardless of what the world may think or say about Subrata Roy, I hold him in the highest regard as he is the only business tycoon who remained in India to face all allegations and be jailed for them. He had given me the official rights to make his biopic when I had met him at his Lucknow residence in 2019. His was an interesting zero-to-hero story. He also gave his team to work with me; that’s how I met people—from Kapil Dev to Lata Mangeshkar ji, from Akhilesh Yadav to Sachin Tendulkar. I also met his wife and family. He had not only signed the formal agreement that said I possess the legal rights to his story, but also read the script and signed off on it.”
Since the 2010s, Roy was under scrutiny after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) found that his company had failed to repay billions of dollars to investors in bonds. He was subsequently arrested in 2014, and released on bail in 2016. Considering the script was monitored by the late tycoon, will the biopic show his chequered past? “Saharasri had said that I had to show the uncompromising truth.”
He told me not to lie, so, the movie is an honest account,” says Singh. He says he met Nair last November when Scam 3 was at the inception stage. “[It’s sad] when friends do this to each other in spite of knowing that I have the rights. When I met him with my writer Rishi Virmani and co-producer Zafar Mehdi, Sameer told me that he wanted to make the Subrata Roy story as Scam 3. My director and I flatly refused and left, as it is not a scam story. We will make it like a Deewaar [1975] about a man who started with a capital of Rs 2000 and how he built an empire. Now, Sahara India Pariwar plans to take legal action against the Scam 3 makers. [The company] and I will jointly fight against them. They have no right to make anything on him.”
As per its announcement, Scam 3 promises to “reveal the dust-to-diamonds story of the maverick businessman, who was caught in accusations ranging from chit-fund manipulations to fake investors, ultimately leading to his arrest in 2014. With approximately Rs 25,000 crore lying unclaimed with government authorities, the repercussions of the scam continue to reverberate even today.”
mid-day reached out to Mehta, who did not wish to comment. Nair did not respond till press time.
Sahara India Pariwar issued a statement objecting to the making of Scam 3 and questioning the use of the word ‘scam’ in a case that is still pending. An excerpt from the statement read, “The aggrieved members are seeking advice to take suitable legal action against the producer, director and all those involved in making the illegal portrayal.”
Asha Bhosle was overwhelmed; she hugged me and started crying-Sandeep Singh
3:40 PM
Sandeep Singh on roping in the legendary singer’s granddaughter Zanai Bhosle for his directorial debut The Pride of Bharat—Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 17, 2024)
Earlier this week, filmmaker Sandeep Singh announced that he was launching Asha Bhosle’s granddaughter Zanai Bhosle with his next, The Pride of Bharat—Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Zanai will essay the role of Shivaji’s wife Rani Sai Bhosale in the biopic. What makes Zanai perfect for the role is the fact that she is a descendant of Shivaji’s royal family.
Singh says, “Everybody looks for a star, but I wanted somebody who would become a star. Sai Bai was the mother of Sambhaji Bhosale, Shivaji Raje Bhosale, and died at the age of 25. Zanai and Asha Bhosle share the same lineage. That’s why Zanai is perfect for the role of the most favourite wife of Shivaji Maharaj.”
When Singh went to watch the legendary singer’s show, Asha at 90, on March 9, he saw Zanai performing. That’s when he decided to sign her. “I told [emcee RJ Anmol] to announce my name on the stage as I wanted to sign her for my movie. I called Zanai and Asha tai on the stage, and told Asha tai that I wanted to sign her granddaughter for my directorial debut. Zanai broke down on stage; after the show got over, even Asha tai was overwhelmed; she hugged me and started crying.”
Asha and Singh’s friendship dates back to 2006, reveals the director. It’s an equation that was born from their shared love for music and food. “She makes a mean mutton curry, and always puts extra ghee in my rice,” Singh laughs.
Naturally, the singer is completely involved in her granddaughter’s debut movie. “She called me at home this week for a brief discussion. When I told Asha tai that Ranveer Singh is on my wish-list to play Shivaji, she was happy. She told me that if she was younger, she would have played Shivaji’s mother Jijabai’s role. She added, ‘Agar tumko lagta hai, toh main abhi bhi kar doongi!’ We all started laughing, but we appreciated her passion.”
Before Singh takes The Pride of Bharat—Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on floors by year end, Zanai will undergo thorough prep that will include diction classes and script workshops. The filmmaker is planning to release the biopic on February 19, 2026 to coincide with Shivaji Jayanti.
Nobody better than Ranveer Singh to play Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj-Sandeep Singh
9:49 AM
Producer-turned-director Sandeep draws wish-list for Shivaji biopic; keen to cast Madhuri as Jijabai
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 19, 2024)
Last week, days before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary, Sandeep Singh announced his next directorial venture, The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Through the biopic, he wants to take the story of the famed Maratha warrior king across the country.
“People don’t know [enough] about Shivaji, even though they may have heard of him. This kind of historical drama needs a lot of research,” starts the producer-turned-director, who plans to mount the project on a lavish scale and release it in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi.
The obvious question is— whom does he wish to cast in the titular role? “My first choice would be Ranveer Singh as I have worked with him in Bajirao Mastani [2015] and Ram Leela [2013]. When nobody was ready to shave their head for Bajirao, he went ahead and did it. That is the dedication we require to play Shivaji Maharaj. There’s nobody better than him to play Shivaji. He was born and brought up in Mumbai, and knows Marathi too.”
The director, who is fine-tuning the script, will approach the actor after he is ready. “I’ll go to him only with a bound script. I’m sure Ranveer will say yes. Who will say no to play the legendary hero?”
The Maratha king’s mother Jijabai was known to have influenced his values and ideals. The film, which will roll by the year-end, will shed light on her too.
“I will ensure that every part of his life story is captured, including how he started going to war at the age of 13 and his sacrifices. If Sridevi was alive, I would’ve requested her to play Jijabai. But now, my ideal choice is Madhuri Dixit-Nene. She is a powerful actor with a strong persona and vast experience.”
Randeep Hooda, Anand Panti, Sandeep Singh agree on 51-49% ownership of SwatantryaVeer Savarkar
8:36 AM
After months of conflict, producers and Randeep agree to 51-49 per cent ownership of SwatantryaVeer Savarkar’s IP; creative decisions rest with the actor-director
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 20, 2024)
On January 6, mid-day reported that following months of conflicts regarding the intellectual property rights (IPR) of SwatantryaVeer Savarkar, actor-director Randeep Hooda, and producers Anand Pandit and Sandeep Singh had come to an understanding (One fight ends, freedom fight begins, Jan 6). In the latest development, all the concerned parties submitted the final agreement, wherein it is stated that the biopic’s IPR—including the derivative rights, trademarks, copyrights, script and publicity rights—will jointly belong to the producers’ respective studios and Hooda’s banner, with the former holding 51 per cent share to the actor’s 49 per cent.
Per the agreement, a copy of which is in possession of mid-day, the IPR can be shared by Pandit and Hooda in the ratio of 50:50, after the producer’s recovery of investments of Rs 6 crore. All the creative decisions, however, solely rest with the actor-director. Pandit is happy that Hooda, Singh and he have resolved their differences.
“Profit-sharing has never been a major issue. It was a misunderstanding that has been cleared. I’ve always been inspired by Veer Savarkar, and doing business was never [the motive] with this film. By showing Savarkar’s contribution in the freedom struggle on the big screen, I wanted our generation to know more about him,” he states.
While Hooda steps into Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s shoes, Ankita Lokhande plays his wife Yamunabai Savarkar. Pandit says that as the director, Hooda is the best person to take the creative decisions.
He adds, “Randeep is taking the creative calls, including which trailers and posters should appear, the marketing, and so on. Now, we’re going all out with the promotions, so that we can release the movie on February 23 or March 1.”
Main Atal Hoon is the first film where Pankaj Tripathi called his acting teacher and took tips-Sandeep Singh
4:12 PM
Main Atal Hoon producer on how he got Tripathi’s nod for the biopic without a script in place; says actor watched the late Prime Minister’s speeches and spoke to journalists as part of his prep
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 17, 2024)
Few know that during his college days, Pankaj Tripathi aspired to join politics. After college, however, he found his calling in acting. But fate works in mysterious ways. Today, the actor finds himself playing the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of India’s most beloved prime ministers, in Main Atal Hoon. Producer Sandeep Singh says that Tripathi was among the first to join the Ravi Jadhav-directed biopic.
“While doing research for the project in 2021, we approached Pankaj. There was no narration as we hadn’t even written the story. I showed Pankaj an AI-created image of him as the character, but he couldn’t believe it was him. After I convinced him, Pankaj said yes to the film without a bound script,” recalls Singh, who then reached out to Jadhav to helm the movie.
“Ravi wanted to direct the film. But apart from him and me, everybody was against the decision. They felt, how can a Marathi filmmaker direct a story [largely set in] Uttar Pradesh?”
In some ways, Tripathi is an apt choice as he shares the late prime minister’s mild manners and affable nature. Singh says that the actor, a stickler for prep, did extensive research for the role as he knew it would be one of his most significant offerings.
“This is the first film where Pankaj called his acting teacher and took tips. He also watched all of Vajpayee’s speeches and interviews on news channels, and even met some of the journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai and Prabhu Chawla, who had interviewed the late politician. Pankaj spoke to Atal ji’s adopted daughter, Namita Bhattacharya, and asked people whether they thought he could play this character with conviction. He felt that many actors, who did biopics, often ended up [doing] mimicry. He wanted to keep his role a mix of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and himself.”
As he played the politician and poet, Tripathi wanted to understand the leader’s mindset; the physical prep was secondary. Singh adds, “Pankaj would always say ‘Mujhe bahar se Atal nahin dikhna hai, mujhe andar se Atal hona hai.’ Atal ji’s favourite dish was khichdi. So, during the shoot, Pankaj started eating home-made khichdi as he wanted to get into the skin of his character. This film starts from Atal ji’s childhood when he was rejected as a poet in school, tracing how he went on to become a famous politician and orator, and ends in 1999.”
Randeep Hooda, producers resolve months-long conflict to become joint owners of SwatantryaVeer Savarkar’s IP rights
7:50 PM
Actor-director Randeep and producers resolve months-long conflict to become joint owners of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’s IP rights; leader’s biopic to release in February
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 5, 2024)
In August, mid-day had reported that Randeep Hooda, and producers Anand Pandit and Sandeep Singh were at loggerheads, with the actor-director claiming that he alone held the rights to the intellectual property (IP) of SwatantryaVeer Savarkar. Now, we hear the conflict between the trio has been resolved, paving the way for the release of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s biopic. Hooda and the producers are eyeing the February 23 window, thus commemorating the freedom fighter’s death anniversary on February 26.
A source from the creative team reveals that the patch-up was initiated by a common friend in September. “A mutual friend from Delhi made Randeep and Anand see eye-to-eye. The issue was sorted out amicably before Randeep’s wedding to Lin Laishram on November 29. The couple even attended Anand’s 60th birthday bash in December. A fresh agreement is currently being drawn out.”
Singh confirms the development, saying, “We are trying to finalize the agreement at the earliest as we want to release the film on Veer Savarkar’s death anniversary. The IP rights were with Anand and me in the beginning. But some people take advantage and artistes like us come under their influence. Now, the rights are with the three of us.”
The movie will trace Savarkar’s contribution in the freedom struggle and how he shaped the Hindu nationalist political ideology of Hindutva. Ankita Lokhande plays Savarkar’s wife, Yamunabai Savarkar.
Fight erupts off-screen over Randeep Hooda-starrer Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
8:44 AM
Randeep and producers at loggerheads after actor-director claims sole ownership of IP of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar; makers rubbish the claim in response to his legal notice
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; August 4, 2023)
It looks like an off-screen fight will precede the retelling of freedom fighter Veer Savarkar’s life. Yesterday, in a film trade magazine, Randeep Hooda’s legal counsel issued a public notice, claiming that the actor-director is the sole owner of all intellectual property (IP) rights of the upcoming biopic, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. This has brought to light the tussle, apparently brewing since late last year, between Hooda and producers Sandeep Singh and Anand Pandit.
After the biopic was announced in March 2022, Mahesh Manjrekar—who was to initially helm the offering—exited the project in September. Soon, it was announced that Hooda would serve as the director as well. Sources say the friction began soon after.
A source close to Hooda says, “After Mahesh Manjrekar opted out, Sandeep and Anand couldn’t get another director. Randeep, who had lived with the subject and even lost 26 kilos for the role, took charge. He not only wrote the movie with Utkarsh Naithani, but also directed it. When the producers weren’t funding the project, Randeep invested his own money and raised funds to make the film. He has also produced the film.”
An insider associated with Singh and Pandit, however, offers a different version of events, asserting that the duo fulfilled all their responsibilities as producers. “After Mahesh’s exit, Sandeep was to direct the film. But after much coaxing, the producers gave in and let Randeep direct the movie,” says a source.
Things took a turn for the worse when the actor-director allegedly overshot the budget. “The producers had set two conditions—that he would receive a nominal fee for his directorial duties, and that he would complete the film in the stipulated budget of Rs 20 crore. Randeep not only went over-budget, but also took the negatives and all the footage with him. He also went ahead and released the teaser of his own accord,” adds the source.
On November 3 last year, Hooda sent a legal notice to Singh and Pandit, followed by three more on December 8, June 7 and June 26 this year. While the contents of the notice remain undisclosed, the clash went public yesterday as the actor-director’s legal consultants issued the statement. Besides highlighting his sole ownership, it underlined how the actor completed the film against all odds. “Randeep Hooda, under his banner, has successfully written, produced, directed and completed the film despite all odds coming his way, including financial, mental and physical challenges. He has thwarted obstructions created by other entities bent upon disrupting the making of the film, also attempting to infringe on his legal rights (sic).”
On their part, the producers replied to Hooda’s notices last month, a copy of which is in possession of mid-day. Their response stated that the actor-director has committed several wrongdoings, and demanded that he return the negatives, master and all material related to the film.
Ravi Suryawanshi, Singh’s legal counsel, dismissed Hooda’s alleged claims. He said, “Legend Studios Private Limited, along with Anand Pandit Motion Pictures LLP, are the exclusive joint producers and owners of the entire intellectual property rights and exploitation rights of the film. Our client is utterly shocked with the false and baseless claims made by Randeep Hooda. The producers are in the process of taking appropriate legal action [both civil and criminal] against him.”
Pankaj Tripathi to essay the role of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a biopic
8:22 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (November 20, 2022)
Pankaj Tripathi has been roped in to portray the lead role in former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s upcoming biopic. Taking to social media, the actor shared a post which he captioned in Hindi, “Bharat zameen ka tukda nahi, jeeta jaagta rashtrpurush hai!, ye panktiyan likhne waali mahaan neta Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji ki bhumika mujhe bade parde pr sakaar karne ka awsar mil raha hai, ye main apne saubhagya manta hun. #ATAL jald hi (sic).”
Titled Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon Ye Desh Rehna Chahiye - Atal, the film is based on a book adaptation. It will be produced by Sandeep Singh and Vinod Bhanushali.
The movie will go on floors in 2023 and is slated to hit the theatres next year on the occasion of Christmas, which marks the 99th birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
SwatantryaVeer Savarkar was to begin in June, but got delayed, and I had to opt out-Mahesh Manjrekar
8:28 AM
Manjrekar claims no bad blood, as he hands over directorial baton to lead actor Hooda for Savarkar biopic
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 5, 2022)
Even though Randeep Hooda is evidently excited to begin work on his directorial debut, SwatantryaVeer Savarkar — based on the life of freedom fighter, activist, and writer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar — few would know that his appointment as director, was a chance occurrence.
The film on Savarkar, who developed the Hindu nationalist political ideology of Hindutva while imprisoned in Ratnagiri in 1922, was to be helmed by Mahesh Manjrekar, who had to eventually bail out due to scheduling issues.
Manjrekar tells mid-day, “SwatantryaVeer Savarkar was to begin in June, but got delayed, and I had to opt out. It was a mutual decision taken by the producers [Anand Pandit, Sandip Ssingh, and Sam Khan], Randeep and me, as I had other commitments. They wanted to begin shooting at the same time as Bigg Boss 4 Marathi rolled. Since I am the host of the show, I wouldn’t be able to do justice to the film.”
Ssingh confirms the development, adding that seeing as invested as Hooda was in the project, they handed the directorial baton to him. “Mahesh was our choice. But, Randeep had to lose 15 kilos for one leg, and another eight kilos for the next leg. So, the process was time consuming, and the dates were not aligning with those of Mahesh. Randeep has written the film with Utkarsh Naithani, and had already started losing weight for it. He is an evolved and involved actor, and he knew each and every thing about Savarkar. We sat down and discussed the issue, and he agreed to come aboard as director. He told us that it was his dream to become a director one day, so this film served as the ideal offer.”
The team plans to release the film on May 26, 2023, on the occasion of Veer Savarkar’s 140th birth anniversary.
Sandeep Singh gets death threats; Mumbai Police begins probe
8:43 AM
V Narayan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 9, 2022)
Mumbai: Police probing the death threats received by film producer Sandeep Singh on his Facebook Messenger are tracking the internet protocol (IP) address of the unknown person who issued the threats. The sender’s name mentioned on the FB page is “Krishna Singh Rajput.” Rajput’s FB status shows that he hails from Siwan in Bihar and that he currently lives in Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.
Singh filed the complaint with Amboli police on June 6 after receiving the threat for the fifth time by the same person in the last few days. DCP (Zone IX) Manjunath Singe said they have formed a team that is tracking the suspect involved in the case.
Since the threat message received by Singh refers to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, the police are probing whether the suspect in this case has any link with the threats issued to actor Salman Khan.
Check out Randeep Hooda's first look from SwatantraVeer Savarkar
8:43 AM
Sharing Hooda’s look from the Savarkar biopic on his 139th birth anniversary, director Manjrekar on how actor lost 10 kilos to match freedom fighter’s lean avatar
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 28, 2022)
In March, mid-day was the first to report that Randeep Hooda had been signed on to play Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in SwatantraVeer Savarkar (Savarkar is the most misunderstood hero, Mar 23). Two months on, remembering the freedom fighter on his 139th birth anniversary, the makers have shared Hooda’s first look from the biopic. Sporting a bushy moustache, round glasses and the signature cap, the actor bears a striking resemblance to the national hero.
Looking the part, however, is only the first step. Hooda knows it will be a tough road ahead as he teams up with director Mahesh Manjrekar to shine a spotlight on the hero’s contribution towards India’s fight for freedom. “This is a salute to one of the tallest unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle. I hope I can live up to the challenge of filling such big shoes, and tell his real story that had been brushed under the carpet for so long,” says the actor.
Slated to go on floors in August, the Anand Pandit-backed film will revisit Savarkar’s early association with the revolutionary group India House in the UK, his imprisonment at the Cellular Jail and the later years when he advocated social unity. Manjrekar says that in Hooda, he has found a leading man who is deeply committed to doing justice to the role.
“Randeep was 20 kilos heavier than how we had visualised him. I was skeptical [about the casting] since he was well-built, and Savarkar was lean. But Randeep surprised us by losing 10 kilos within a month. He intends to drop another 10 kilos,” says the director.
He is equally impressed by the actor’s deep-dive into the revolutionary’s life. While Manjrekar has spent over a year with the research team to ensure historical accuracy in the film, he admits that his leading man’s knowledge on the subject is vast. “It’s rare that an actor is more well-read than the writing team. It’s nice to be working with an actor who is on the same page. We have read extensively and found necessary references, but he has read far more than us.”
Producer Sandeep Singh adds, “Savarkar is the most misunderstood hero, and it is high time we understood him.”
Amitabh Bachchan said, ‘Instead of spending on me, let’s spend on the film’-Sandeep Singh
8:27 AM
Jhund producer on how Bachchan took fee cut to ensure the drama was made within budget
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 1, 2022)
Taking the story of Jhund — based on professor Vijay Barse, who rehabilitated Nagpur’s street children through football — from paper to the big screen has been an arduous journey. Producer Sandeep Singh credits Amitabh Bachchan for having complete faith in the sports drama, despite the odds. When Savita Hiremath and Meenu Arora, who had the rights to Barse’s life story, approached the producer to make Jhund, Singh could only imagine Bachchan in the lead role.
“Mr Bachchan loved the script. When we were figuring out how to bring him on board, given the film’s [modest] budget, he stunned us by cutting down on his fee. He said, ‘Instead of spending on me, let’s spend on the film.’ His staff too slashed their fees,” recounts Singh.
But more hurdles lay ahead. In 2018, director Nagraj Manjule, who had built a set in Pune ahead of taking the film on floors, had to pull it down due to lack of finances. The project was halted for over a year, until T-Series saw potential in the story and agreed to back it. “We shot the entire [film] in Nagpur, thanks to Bhushan Kumar who believed in us,” says Singh.
Besides the megastar, Akash Thosar and Rinku Rajguru, the drama stars a string of new faces. “These kids were handpicked by Nagraj, his brother and his team from Nagpur’s streets. That’s why their body language is so raw.”
National Award winner Ravi Jadhav to bring the early years of Maratha leader to screen with Bal Shivaji
10:12 PM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 19, 2022)
The idea of making a magnum opus on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had been haunting filmmaker Ravi Jadhav since 2015. Almost seven years on, he is ready to bring his idea to fruition. The National Award-winning director will helm Bal Shivaji that will trace the braveheart’s early years — specifically from 12 to 16 years of age — that laid the foundation of Swaraj.
“It took eight years of research to achieve what we were aiming to narrate on celluloid,” says Jadhav. While the country is familiar with the Maratha leader’s remarkable journey, he will focus on the untold stories of his childhood that were a sign of things to come. The director met producer Sandeep Singh last year for the narration. Jadhav adds, “It was an instant click with Sandeep, who understood the significance of telling this story. It’s an ode to one of the greatest kings that ever ruled in India.”
Singh, who is joining forces with producer Anand Pandit and Eros International, says, “It’s an honour to make a film based on the icon.”
Echoing his sentiment, Pandit adds, “As a filmmaker and an admirer of his heroism, I wanted to dive deep in the lesser-known aspects of his life.” The makers, currently zeroing in on the cast, intend to take the film on floors in June.
After Ok Jaanu, Gulzar and A R Rahman come together for Subrata Roy biopic
8:14 AM
MID-DAY (September 9, 2021)
Bringing together legends AR Rahman and Gulzar is the perfect recipe for a hit album and taking the onus is producer Sandip Singh, who has earlier produced films like Sarbjit (2016), Aligarh (2016), and Bhoomi (2017), among others. In July, he acquired the rights to make the Sahara chief Subrata Roy’s biopic. While it’s still unclear on who will play the titular role, the producer has ensured to get the best in the music business for his venture.
Confirming the development, Singh says, “I have been an ardent admirer of A R Rahman and Gulzar saab’s work. Their contribution to the cinema cannot be measured. Subrata Roy’s life is a story of grit, determination, and success and it needs the support of these two geniuses to realise this dream on 70 mm.”
Rahman and Gulzar last collaborated on Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor’s Ok Jaanu in 2017. Hoping to do justice to Gulzar’s “soulful lyrics”, Rahman says, “[His] lyrics are extremely inspiring for a musician. I hope I can do justice to the lyrics and the story.”
The biopic is set to span several continents and traverse the business tycoon’s journey over the decades. The title and cast of the film is expected to be announced shortly.
A biopic on Smita Patil is on my bucket list-Chitrangda Singh
7:45 AM
Rishabh Deb and Sushmita Jha (BOMBAY TIMES; May 3, 2019)
A doting mother, actress, producer and writer in the making – Chitrangda Singh dons many hats. From garnering critical acclaim in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, to taking a sabbatical and later producing the biographical sports film Soorma, her career in Bollywood has been eventful. As a mother to 10-year-old Zorawar, her priorities in life have definitely changed over time, but her quest to do experimental roles and quality work continues. Chitrangda spoke to us about films, politics and why it is important to have an opinion. Excerpts:
We have seen you in very few films over the years...
It wasn’t a choice and neither was I being selective. I think it is about the kind of roles being offered to me. There would be a lot of stuff out there that I would love to do, but it doesn’t get offered to me. Sometimes the kind of stuff that is offered to me is something that I don’t want to do. So it is because of this that the audience has seen me in few films. Some people think now I only want to produce and don’t want to act. That’s not true. Once an actor, always an actor and I don’t have any qualms admitting that I am greedy for good roles. Currently, I am discussing a bilingual film with Mahesh Manjrekar, which is in Hindi and Marathi.
You produced Soorma, which was based on hockey player Sandeep Singh. What was the experience like?
Working as a producer was immensely satisfying and what made it even better was the response the film received. The audience loved Soorma. I am so glad that I could fulfil the promise that I made to Sandeep Singh. Bringing his story to the light and giving the audience an insight into his hard work and his life was very satisfying.
In your acting career, you have taken two long breaks. Was it difficult getting back to the screen?
These breaks that I took were not a strategy or planned. There were things that you need to prioritise. But during these breaks, I realised a lot of things. I realised how much I love doing cinema and how much I loved the whole process of cinema. I discovered different aspects of me. I started writing; I have already written two scripts. And I am extremely glad and thankful that even though I have been away, the audience has still been loving and kind to whatever work I have done.
Are you keen on featuring in a biopic yourself?It would be the most memorable thing of my acting career if I get to play Smita Patil in her biopic. I have been told that I resemble her, and that itself is an honour to me. I would definitely love to do a biopic on her.
A lot of Bollywood celebs are campaigning for political parties these days and expressing their opinion on political issues. Given a chance, would you campaign?
I think it is a very individual choice whether you want to have an opinion on everything which is out there or not. Somewhere, because we are public figures, we can bring attention to important things and issues. We are asked for our opinions because we can influence someone. But at the same time, I don’t think we should have an opinion on everything for the heck of having one. When you are opinionated, there lies a huge responsibility that comes with what you say. There needs to be a lot of balance. But at the same time, you should be who you are. I think it is great that some people have come out and said exactly what they think, despite being trolled for the same.
There are a lot of public figures who also prefer to stay silent. Do you think they have a responsibility to speak up?
I don’t think you should chicken out of expressing an opinion simply because you want to please someone and you do not want to stand by something. But again, it’s an individual choice. If you ask me, I definitely think you should speak and stand by things that you believe in. Fear of something or someone shouldn’t stop you from stating an opinion.
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