A heartfelt tribute to his aunt Usha Mehta, who had played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement—that’s how Ketan Mehta had envisioned Freedom Radio. In May 2022, the director and producer Anubhav Sinha announced the ambitious biopic. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. After the Sara Ali Khan-led Ae Watan Mere Watan was announced last year, Ketan was persuaded by Sinha to drop their project as both movies had the same subject.

Now, as the Karan Johar production is slated to première on Prime Video on March 21, Ketan remembers how his film was to be an intimate portrait of his aunt, who established the underground radio station, Congress Radio, during the Quit India movement.

“Developing this story was pure joy. Sifting through her personal diaries and delving into my own memories have been a crucial part of the work. We were planning to make Freedom Radio, but another film was already being made on the same subject. That had progressed substantially, and we were still in the pre-production stage. It wouldn’t have been wise to repeat it,” he says.

The decision to drop the story, which he held so dear, was not easy. “It was heartbreaking when we decided to not do Freedom Radio. But that’s part of filmmaking; you have to take it in your stride.”

The team of Ae Watan Mere Watan released the teaser in January 2023, while Johar and Khan launched a motion poster at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa last November. In director Kannan Iyer’s film, Khan steps into the shoes of the late Mehta, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1998. Did the film’s team reach out to Ketan or his family during their research?

“Not at all. We were planning to tell her story, with flashes from her childhood till India’s independence in 1947. I lived with my aunt for 15 years before she passed away. So, we shared a deep connection.”

One wonders about the road ahead for Freedom Radio. Has he shelved the biopic completely? “I’m not making it for the time being. We had an independent perspective, and since [we had] personal knowledge of the family, it would have been a richer film. But Anubhav felt that having two similar stories come out was not the best idea. We kept it on the backburner; we’ll see how it works out.”

Last September, mid-day was the first to report that Ketan Mehta is planning a biopic on his freedom fighter-aunt Usha Mehta (Another biopic in Bollywood, Sep 7). Telling such an ambitious story requires unflinching support from collaborators with like-minded vision. Fortunately, Ketan has found the perfect partner in producer Anubhav Sinha.

For the director, Freedom Radio is a means to celebrate the fiery spirit of his aunt who played a crucial role in establishing the Congress Radio. “In 1942, when Mahatma Gandhi announced the Quit India movement, the British Raj arrested all the top leaders in a midnight swoop. The movement was rendered leaderless. That is when the youth of India came forward to take charge. Usha Mehta, a 22-year-old student, galvanised a team of fellow students to counter the British. They established a secret, underground radio station. Under constant threat, they continued to provide the true news of the freedom struggle to the people of India,” he recounts.

Developing this story has been pure joy for Ketan, as he revisited his aunt’s bravery. “Sifting through her personal diaries, and delving into my own memories have been a crucial part of my work. I couldn’t have found a more supportive producer than Anubhav who understands [my] vision.”

Freedom Radio is in pre-production, with the makers in the process of finalising the lead actor. Backing the biopic under Benaras Mediaworks, Sinha says, “It’s the kind of patriotism that we need to revisit in today’s day and age.”

In a previous edition, mid-day had reported that filmmaker Ketan Mehta was considering roping in Bhumi Pednekar for a biopic on his aunt, freedom fighter Usha Mehta. Now, in an interview with this writer, the actor says essaying the part of a freedom fighter would be among her most cherished opportunities.

“Playing a freedom fighter would be my dream role. I am fascinated by such remarkable personalities. It would be an honour. I hope the universe listens to this,” says the actor. With a string of offerings, including Bheed, Rajkummar Rao-starrer Badhaai Do, Ajay Bahl’s Ladykiller, Govinda Naam Mera, and Raksha Bandhan with Akshay Kumar, within the span of one calendar year, Pednekar is set to explore a gamut of personalities for the big screen.

“All my films see me attempt to shatter stereotypes. That’s what I have done right from my debut film, Dum Laga Ke Haisha. I see myself playing ambitious, beautiful, and gutsy characters, because I relate to them. I am thrilled to be creatively expressing myself.”

Despite having tackled a variety of genres, Pednekar says there is one that she is still keen to give a go at. “A fantasy project. I would love to experience that, as an actor,” she signs off.

Filmmakers Ketan Mehta and Karan Johar are in a race of sorts to bring out a biopic on freedom fighter and revolutionary Usha Mehta.

Usha, Ketan’s paternal aunt, was one of the key members who took charge of the country’s fight for freedom against the British regime between 1942 and 1947. Most senior revolutionaries were put behind bars at that time and it was the young revolutionaries who played a vital role to keep the freedom movement alive using underground radio stations. Usha Mehta was the one who initiated this use of technology to reach out to the masses. It was reported that Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar are the top choices as far as Ketan’s biopic on his phoiba (aunt) is concerned.

When we spoke to Taapsee Pannu about being considered for the role, she said, “This is news to me. I have not been offered this film and neither do I have its script with me to see. Yes, it is a dream to play a freedom fighter or someone who crosses limits to show her love for her motherland.”

The Badla actress further added, “It would have been an honour for me to play the role but I have no idea where this came from and I have not been offered this film.”

On his part, in his recent chat with BT, filmmaker Ketan Mehta had stated, “At this moment, all I can say is that the screenplay is still being worked upon. It’s very early to say who’s playing the part.”

Ketan Mehta, who has made films like Sardar, Rang Rasiya, Mangal Pandey: The Rising and Manjhi: The Mountain Man, has been in the news for his upcoming film, a biopic on freedom fighter Usha Mehta, who played a pivotal role in the Quit India Movement of 1942. The biopic became a point of discussion also because it came to light that filmmaker Karan Johar, too, is reportedly planning a film on the same subject. Ketan Mehta spoke to BT exclusively about this and more:

India is a free country, and I can’t deny that my phoiba (aunt) makes for a great subject. I wish Karan all the best. I feel personally responsible that a tribute to her is made and presented as well as possible. It is a family legacy. My father was also a freedom fighter, and this is the only legacy dad and phoiba left us with and I feel this should be passed on to people. I have been out of the ring for a while. The last film I made was Toba Tek Singh and Manjhi: The Mountain Man. I am also not an industry insider to pick up the phone on another filmmaker and talk about things. I prefer to be that way. I am Usha Mehta’s kin and reaching out to me is their decision. If they want to do that, they can. And why would I anyway stop them from making their film? Yes, it’s unfortunate that these things happen all the time in our business. When I was making Rang Rasiya, it so happened that a few more films were in the pipeline on the same subject. I can’t stop others from doing what they want to do.

Usha Mehta was my father’s sister. I’ve grown up under her guidance, and she also spent the last 20 years of her life with us at our home. She has guided me all my life and that inspiration, I felt, should now be shared with the world at large. I made films like Mangal Pandey: The Rising and Sardar because the freedom movement has inspired me in a big way. This film is about the Quit India Movement, our last battle for freedom, which is the most underreported aspect of our freedom struggle. All the prominent leaders like Maulana Azad, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were in prison and the youngsters took over the mantle. They guided the nation in its last battle for independence with very little resources at their disposal. They used the radio to reach out to as many people as possible. That underground radio station was run by my aunt, Usha Mehta, at the age of 22. That entire phase between 1942 and 1947 has barely been recorded. Next year, it will be the 80th anniversary of the Quit India movement, hence the movie.

My grandfather was a judge in the court and he still allowed them, especially my aunt, which only goes on to show that he was an open-minded man, who not only made it a point to educate his daughter, but also support her decisions. Phoiba was studying to become a lawyer at that time. She went on to do her PhD degree, too. My grandfather didn’t know about the underground radio station, but he knew where the sentiments of his children were. I can imagine what that time must have been like...It was a do or die situation, youngsters took charge unprepared and took it to the finish line. Deep down, in all of this is a father-daughter story. I was very close to my aunt and this film is close to my heart.

It’s because our society was, and to a great degree, is patriarchal even today. It has forgotten the contribution made by women in our freedom struggle. Their work has remained unsung and that is the reason we need to look at our history with a different lens now, and revisit chapters to understand our past better while looking towards the future.

At this moment, all I can say is that the screenplay is still being worked upon. It’s very early to say who will be playing the part.

Telling the story of a freedom fighter is a significant undertaking. The responsibility only grows manifold when the subject has been an intimate part of your life. On that count, Ketan Mehta’s next, a biopic on freedom fighter-aunt Usha Mehta is perhaps his most important work. Sources say that the period drama will be mounted on a lavish budget.

Even as he is shaping the final draft of the script, the National Award-winning filmmaker has simultaneously begun the pre-production. With the late Mehta having spent the better part of her life in then-Bombay, the director is recreating the city of the 1930s and ’40s.

The historians who assisted Ketan in the script development are also overseeing the process of world-building. A source reveals, “Mehta’s team has reached out to well-known art directors. Alongside, they are conducting a recce of south Mumbai, mainly Colaba and Fort, where a large part of the action will be set. The director hopes to kick off the shoot by the first quarter of 2022, with the indoor sequences. Post that, the unit will shift to Madh Island or Virar, where grand sets replicating the architectural style of the ’30s and ’40s will be built. Ketan is studying every element that is being sourced — from the fabrics to the vehicles — to ensure it is historically accurate. A fair amount of VFX will be employed as well.”

While a leading studio has come on board, the director is keen to sign on Taapsee Pannu or Bhumi Pednekar for the titular role. Ketan is unfazed that Karan Johar too is reportedly backing a story on the same subject, instead viewing his movie as a personal story of the gritty Gandhian who had helped establish the Congress Radio during the Quit India movement.

The source from the unit adds, “The film will shed light on her contribution in setting up the underground radio station in 1942 as well as her serving a prison sentence in Yerawada Jail. Ketan sir has a lot of first-hand anecdotes from his aunt and her personal diaries, which are forming the crux of his story.”

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.