Anant Joshi On Going Bald For Yogi Adityanath's Biopic Ajey: 'I Let Go A Part Of Myself'
Anant Joshi will play UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi. Directed by Ravindra Gautam, Joshi went bald for the role, inspired by Shantanu Gupta's book.
The makers of Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi have locked in the release date for the much-anticipated biopic based on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Timed to coincide with his birthday in June this year, a new poster was also unveiled as part of the announcement. Set to arrive in theatres on August 1, the film stars Anant Joshi in the lead role. To closely resemble the CM, Joshi took the bold step of shaving his head, something he says wasn't easy for him emotionally, as he's always been quite attached to his hair.
'Losing it wasn't just a cosmetic change — it was letting go of a part of myself", he told IANS. Joshi shared that shaving his head was more than just a physical change, it was his way of truly stepping into the shoes of CM Yogi and embracing the character's spirit.
'But this role demanded that sacrifice. I knew I couldn't fake it. I had to live it. I had to become Yogi, not just act like him."
Offering a fresh glimpse into the upcoming biographical drama, the production house shared the striking new poster on social media in June and wrote, 'Jag chhoda, Bhagwa Odha, Seva mein ramm gaya. Ek Yogi — jo akela hi poora aandolan ban gaya!" Yogi Ji Ke Janmotsav par prastut hai us kahaani ka aarambh. #AjeyTheUntoldStoryOfAYogi – 1st August se cinema gharoṅ mein."
Take a look:
Producer Ritu Mengi, in a statement, shared, 'Announcing the release date on this occasion is a heartfelt tribute to an extraordinary life of Yogiji—one that inspires millions. At its heart, Ajey portrays a transformation driven by sacrifice, duty, and dharma."
Based on Shantanu Gupta's best-selling biography The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi brings to screen the life of a man who chose the path of renunciation and public service over personal ambition, eventually rising to become one of India's most influential political figures. The film is expected to trace Yogi Adityanath's remarkable transformation — from his early days as Ajay Singh Bisht, a young boy from Uttarakhand, to becoming one of India's most powerful and influential political figures.
Directed by Ravindra Gautam, known for Maharani 2, and produced by Ritu Mengi, this ambitious biographical drama boasts a strong ensemble cast including Dinesh Lal Yadav, Ajay Mengi, Pavan Malhotra, Rajesh Khattar, Garima Vikrant Singh, and Sarwar Ahuja.
The film is set for a theatrical release on August 1, 2025 and will hit screens in five languages: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. With music by Meet Bros and a script penned by Dilip Bachchan Jha and Priyank Dubey, Ajey promises to be a politically charged, emotionally resonant journey. The visuals are helmed by cinematographer Vishnu Rao, with Uday Prakash Singh handling production design.
First Published:
July 02, 2025, 09:12 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Guru Dutt's Personal Letters To Wife Geeta Reveal His Longing For Family, Says Granddaughter
Last Updated: On Guru Dutt's 100th birth anniversary, his granddaughters shared insights about his life and his personal letters written to wife Geeta Dutt. One of the most accomplished filmmakers and actors in Hindi cinema, Guru Dutt had his share of turmoil in his personal life. Much like his films, his personal life was also full of ups and downs. In an exclusive interview with IANS on the occasion of the hundredth birth anniversary of Guru Dutt, the filmmaker and actor's granddaughters, Gouri and Karuna Dutt, spoke about his films, life, hobbies, and more. While talking about the letters their grandfather, Guru Dutt, wrote to their grandmother, Geeta Dutt, Gouri said, 'We've been very lucky — our dad preserved all the letters. In fact, they were even published in a book. I remember one letter he addressed to his children, he drew a cartoon face when signing it." Adding to that, she said, 'I remember something he wrote to his children, 'Kaam toh kaam hota hai. Koi kaam chhota ya bada nahi hota, aur jo kaam nahi karta hai, woh buddhu hota hai.' (No work is big or small, but those who do not work are fools.)" She continued 'I think it was his way of saying that you have to work hard if you want to reach anywhere in life." Throwing more light on the letters, Karuna said, 'Through his letters, you could definitely sense his longing for the family. Even though he was a workaholic, there was a part of him that deeply missed them." For the unversed, Guru Dutt was a veteran filmmaker and actor. who was mostly active during the 1940s and 1950s. He is known for iconic films like 'Pyaasa', 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghula, 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand', 'Mr. & Mrs. 55', and many more. He passed away at the young age of thirty-nine. His films gained cult status after his demise. Recently, to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Guru Dutt, six of his films—including Pyaasa, Baaz, and Chaudhvin Ka Chand—have been restored and screened in theatres across India. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Mamata Banerjee slams 'Kesari Chapter 2' makers for misrepresenting Khudiram Bose as 'Khudiram Singh'
Picture Credit: X Kolkata, Aug 11 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out at the makers of the Bollywood film Kesari Chapter 2 for allegedly misrepresenting Bengali revolutionary Khudiram Bose as 'Khudiram Singh'. The criticism came as she paid tributes to the freedom fighter on his death anniversary. Picture Credit: X Kolkata, Aug 11 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out at the makers of the Bollywood film Kesari Chapter 2 for allegedly misrepresenting Bengali revolutionary Khudiram Bose as 'Khudiram Singh'. The criticism came as she paid tributes to the freedom fighter on his death anniversary. Picture Credit: X 1 2 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out at the makers of the Bollywood film Kesari Chapter 2 for allegedly misrepresenting Bengali revolutionary Khudiram Bose as "Khudiram Singh". The criticism came as she paid tributes to the freedom fighter on his death anniversary. CM calls it an attack on Bengali legacy In a social media post, Mamata Banerjee called the misrepresentation an "attack on the Bengali language" and an insult to those who laid down their lives for India's freedom. "My respectful obeisance on the death anniversary of revolutionary Khudiram Bose. Let me write something. Recently, in a Hindi film, revolutionary Khudiram was called 'Singh'. Why are those who gave their lives for freedom being insulted? Will language terrorists even hold onto the immortal revolutionary Khudiram?" Banerjee asked. FIR filed against producers for historical inaccuracy Recently, a controversy erupted after Khudiram Bose was referred to as Khudiram Singh in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Kesari Chapter 2. In June, an FIR was registered against the producers of the film at Bidhannagar South police station for allegedly misrepresenting historical personalities from West Bengal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best Interior Design and Styling Services Isla Styling Read More Undo The complaint had accused the film of inaccurately portraying Khudiram Bose as "Khudiram Singh" and describing Barindra Kumar Ghosh as "Birendra Kumar" from Amritsar. One of the country's youngest freedom fighters, Khudiram Bose, was hanged on August 11, 1908, at the age of 18 for his role in the Muzaffarpur bomb case. Banerjee, in her social media post, further claimed that the son of Bengal was shown as a son of Punjab. "Our indomitable teenager from Midnapore has been shown as a son of Punjab. Unbearable! But we have always paid tribute to this man, a symbol of patriotism and supreme sacrifice," she said. Banerjee also highlighted her government's initiatives to preserve Bose's legacy, which include developing Bose's birthplace, Mahabani, and its surrounding areas. "For the further development of Mahabani and the adjacent areas, which are associated with the birth anniversary of Khudiram Bose, the Mahabani Development Authority has been established. Apart from this, everything has been done, from installing a statue of Shaheed Khudiram in Mahabani to renovating the library, a new spacious auditorium, conference room. An open stage has also been set up. In addition, modern cottages have been built for visitors, and the traditional Khudiram Park has been revived. The entire area has also been decorated with lights," she said. She further highlighted that her government also named a metro station in Kolkata after him.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Was impossible not to be moved by the energy Dulquer brings in: Bhagyashri Borse
Mumbai, Aug 11 (IANS) The makers of 'Kaantha' released the song 'Panimalare' featuring Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse on Monday. The actress went on to speak about the star and said that working with the star was an absolute treat. The makers of "Kaantha" released the song "Panimalare" featuring Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse on Monday. The actress went on to speak about the star and said that working with the star was an absolute treat. Bhagyashri, who is marking her debut in Tamil film, says, "I've grown up mesmerised by the grace, power, and mystique of so many yesteryear actresses. They've shaped the way I look at cinema, womanhood, and performance." Panimalare is really special because of the lovely chemistry between Bhagyashri and Dulquer. She said: "Somewhere deep in my heart, I feel like I'm standing on their shoulders, trying to carry forward a legacy they built with so much fire and elegance. To be trusted with that - especially in my debut - is a huge honour." Speaking about Dulquer, she said: "Working with Dulquer sir was an absolute treat.""There's such ease in the way he faces the camera, such honesty in the way he inhabits a scene. The chemistry people are talking about, I think, is just my admiration for his craft. It was impossible not to be moved by the energy he brings in." Kaantha, directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, the film is set in the1950s Madras, where lives intertwine against a backdrop of social transformation during India's post-independence era. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Adopted A New 'Dog', But When The Vet Sees It He Calls The Police Undo The film is all set to release on September 12. Talking about Dulquer, who is the son of superstar Mammootty, he made his acting debut with Second Show. After which he was seen in films such as performance in ABCD, Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, and Vaayai Moodi Pesavum. The actor achieved his career breakthrough with Bangalore Days. He established himself as a leading Malayalam actor with Vikramadithyan, Charlie, O Kadhal Kanmani and Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal. His highest-grossing releases came with the Telugu films such as Mahanati, Sita Ramam, and Lucky Baskhar.
