Director Aanand L Rai says his upcoming biopic about five-time world-renowned grandmaster Viswanathan Anand will follow the sport’s personal journey.
Rai said he is excited to bring Anand’s life story to the big screen, but the project will take time.
“It’s an ambitious film. We are working on it (script). “It’s so important, it’s going to take time,” Rai told PTI.
The Atrangi Re The director further said, “It is for the man, not for the sport. This is not about the champion but about the man inside this champion and that is what we will try to do (with the film).
The biopic will be co-produced by Rai Color Yellow Productions and Mahaveer Jain Sundial Entertainment.
The director is currently promoting his romantic drama “Atrangi Re”, starring Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush and Akshay Kumar.
The Atrangi Re, scheduled for release on December 24 on Disney + Hotstar, marks Rai’s return to directing two years after Zero, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif.
Rai also has a number of projects in various stages of development.
“I want to explore all the genres that I would not otherwise direct. I am very grateful that we have made films like “Tumbbad”, “Newton”, “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan”. I have enjoyed and grown up as a creator. “The process is just to be adventurous and daring,” he said.
Rai is also excited to be working with Kumar, 54, on two more films – Raksha Bandhan and Gorkha. Led by National Award-winning filmmaker Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, Gorkha is a film based on the life of Major Ian Cardozo, the legendary 5th Gorkha Rifles officer of the Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army.
Akshay Kumar shared the first poster of Gorkha’s film. (Photo: Akshay Kumar / Twitter)
Kumar will write the role of the veteran of the Indian Army who fought in the wars of 1962, 1965 and especially in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
“It simply came to our notice then. We complete the script. “It will happen next year,” Rai said.
Gorkha will be introduced by Kumar and Rai, while in Raksha Bandhan, which is characterized as a special relationship that celebrates relationships, Rai will direct Kumar.
“Akshay is a talented actor and I’m really excited to work with him once again on ‘Rakshabandhan,'” he added.
Also starring Bhumi Pednekar, Raksha Bandhan is set to hit theaters during Independence Day weekend on August 11, 2022.
Rai is also collaborating with actor Jahnvi Kapoor for the first time on his upcoming home production of Good Luck Jerry, a black crime comedy.
“It’s very different for us (as a producer). “It’s a remake and we’re excited to show it to the world,” he said.
