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Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Dadasaheb Phalke's grandson expresses displeasure at SS Rajamouli over biopic; says Aamir Khan's team did research
Actor Aamir Khan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani surprised fans on Thursday by announcing that they've reunited 11 years later for a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke, the 'father of Indian cinema'. Soon, reports emerged that SS Rajamouli had also announced a biopic on Phalke in 2023 and that Jr NTR was rumoured to play the lead. In an interview with Amar Ujala, Phalke's grandson Chandrashekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar expressed displeasure with Rajamouli. (Also Read: Case of the two Dadasaheb Phalke biopics: Are Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani and Jr NTR-SS Rajamouli making the same film?) The publication noted that Chandrashekar 'expressed displeasure' when asked about the potential biopic by Rajamouli, expected to be titled Made in India. He said that the filmmaker never approached him for it, stating, 'I have been hearing discussions about Rajamouli's project, but he never contacted me for it. No one spoke to me on behalf of Rajamouli. If someone is making a film on Phalke ji, then at least the family should be talked to. The family cannot be ignored, it's we who know the real stories.' In contrast, Chandrashekar, while surprised, was happy to know Aamir and Rajkumar were attached to the biopic, stating that their assistant producer, Hindukush Bharadwaj, had been in touch with him for three years now. 'Aamir-Hirani's team worked hard to gain trust. Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani's project was a surprise for me too. I just got to know that they have tied up, but their assistant producer, Hindukush Bhardwaj, has been in touch with me for the last three years. He used to come to meet me again and again, do research, and ask for details. I told him clearly, you guys are working honestly, you go ahead, I have no objection'. He also mentioned that Aamir-Rajkumar's team 'worked hard to gain our trust'. Chandrasekhar expressed happiness at Aamir playing Phalke as he was a 'serious fellow' and worked with 'honesty'. He also expressed his opinion that Vidya Balan should be roped in to play his grandmother, Saraswatibai Phalke, in the film. Aamir and Rajkumar are expected to begin prepping for the film after Sitaare Zameen Par's release in June. While Rajamouli's Made in India was announced in 2023 and is backed by Varun Gupta and SS Karthikeya's Max Studios and Showing Business.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Case of the two Dadasaheb Phalke biopics: Are Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani and Jr NTR-SS Rajamouli making the same film?
On Thursday, Aamir Khan made a surprise announcement. Aamir will be seen reuniting with Rajkumar Hirani, the man who gave him two of his most successful films, for a biopic of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. Minutes after that, reports said that Telugu star Jr NTR is set to play Phalke in a separate film, which is being backed by SS Rajamouli no less. A release from Aamir Khan's team stated that "it's surprising that no one in Hindi cinema has yet told us the story of cinema in cinema", while announcing that Dadasaheb Phalke's story will soon come to the big screen. Aamir Khan will start preparing for his part soon after the release of Sitaare Zameen Par. VFX studios from LA has already created AI designs for the era and period of the film, the release added. Rajkumar Hirani with Abhijat Joshi and two other writers Hindukush Bharadwaj and Avishkar Bharadwaj have been working on this script for the last 4 years. The note added that Phalke's grandson, Chandrashekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar, has provided 'major anecdotes from Dadasaheb Phalke's life', supporting the project. Filming will begin in October this year. While the release for the Aamir-starrer was technically correct about no Hindi film being ever made on Phalke, regional cinema has depicted the great man. Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) even won a National Award. And in 2023, SS Rajamouli announced Made in India, a story about the history of Indian cinema. While not technically a biopic of just Phalke, the film is slated to tackle the birth of Indian cinema with Phalke being at the centre of it all. The film is being produced by Varun Gupta (Max Studios) and SS Karthikeya (Showing Business). Minutes after the Aamir news broke, not to be outdone, Made in India made its way back into the news cycle. A source claims Jr NTR is set to play Dadasaheb Phalke in Made in India, which is now a pan-India project. According to sources, SS Rajamouli, SS Karthikeya, and Varun Gupta recently narrated the script to Jr. NTR, who did not miss a beat to give his nod to the film. Sources added that the RRR actor was blown away by the lesser-known stories of Dadasaheb Phalke Dadasaheb Phalke was a pioneering filmmaker who laid the foundation of Indian cinema. A self-taught filmmaker, he made India's first indigenously-produced feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913. Four years later, he gave India its first blockbuster in Lanka Dehan. In a career spanning 19 years, Phalke made 94 films, setting the template for how Indian films would be made for decades to come. He introduced concepts like period dramas, costume dramas, and even musicals to Indian cinema. The focus on Phalke, insiders say, is because of how untouched his life remains, despite being so pivotal to the birth of movies in India. The fact that Phalke did all this in British India with minimal support from the authorities adds a nationalistic flavour to his tale as well, which makers feel works well for a film. The bottomline is that the two films are different, with one focussing on Phalke while the other being a broader story of the birth of Indian cinema. However, it would be interesting to see two competing films, featuring huge national stars, helmed by maverick filmmakers, telling essentially the same story, in different languages.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Jr NTR to play Dadasaheb Phalke in 'Made in India' biopic by SS Rajamouli? Here's what we know
Jr NTR is preparing for a major transformation as he takes on the iconic role of Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, in an upcoming film directed by RRR filmmaker SS Rajamouli. According to recent reports, the project's script has now been finalised after months of work. A source close to the production shared that Rajamouli, along with his son SS Karthikeya and producer Varun Gupta, recently presented the final draft to Jr NTR. The actor was reportedly "blown away" by the script, especially by the lesser-known stories about Phalke's life and journey. 'The story chronicles the birth and rise of Indian cinema, and NTR was surprised with the detailing. He is excited to play the Father of Indian cinema on the big screen,' said the source. The source further added, 'NTR Jr has utmost love and respect for not just SS Rajamouli, but also his son, SS Karthikeya (Showing Business), and producer partner Varun Gupta (Max Studios). He heard the narration, and even got into a prolonged discussion about the script, screenplay and treatment.' The film is expected to shed light on the early days of Indian cinema and honour the man who pioneered it, with Jr NTR stepping into a role that is both historic and emotionally rich. The Devara actor is also all set for a collaboration with Prashanth Neel as well. The two are joining hands for a magnum opus. The highly anticipated film, tentatively titled NTRNeel has officially locked its release per the makers, the film will be out in theatres on June 25, 2026. Although the plot is still under wraps, the film is being described as a thrilling mix of action, drama, and mass appeal. It is touted to be one of the biggest productions in the history of Indian cinema. Backed by the esteemed Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts, NTRNeel is shaping up to be a grand cinematic spectacle, comparable to the scale and impact of the KGF franchise. The project is being financed by Kalyan Ram Nandamuri, Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili, and Hari Krishna Kosaraju. Jr NTR was last seen in the global blockbuster RRR, which made history at the Academy Awards. The film's song Naatu Naatu won the Oscar for Best Original Song, becoming the first track from an Indian—and indeed, any Asian—film to win in this category.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
RRR actor Jr NTR to star in Dadasaheb Phalke biopic, Made in India: Reports
NTR Jr is reportedly set to step into the shoes of Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, in the upcoming film 'Made In India'. As per sources close to the development, the final script was recently locked after months of work, and the team—Rajamouli, Karthikeya and Gupta—narrated the draft to NTR Jr, who was said to be 'blown away' by the lesser-known tales about Dadasaheb project, announced in September 2023 by SS Rajamouli, has started gaining attention ever since the speculations caught traction. 'The story chronicles the birth and rise of Indian cinema, and NTR was surprised with the detailing. He is excited to play the father of Indian cinema on the big screen,' revealed source further stated that while Jr NTR has verbally agreed to come on board, paperwork and official announcements are still pending. 'NTR Jr has utmost love and respect for not just SS Rajamouli, but also his son, SS Karthikeya (Showing Business), and producer partner Varun Gupta (Max Studios). He heard the narration, and even got into a prolonged discussion about the script, screenplay and treatment,' the insider source revealed that the Rajamouli-presented project will be directed by National Award-winner Nitin Kakkar, who previously directed 'FIlmistan' and 'Notebook'. The project will mark a departure from the actor's current action-heavy Devara star is currently filming his next with Prashanth Neel, tentatively titled 'Dragon'. He is also gearing up for the release of 'War 2', which also stars Hrithik Roshan and is scheduled to hit the big screens on the Independence Day weekend.
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First Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Jr. NTR to play Dadasaheb Phalke in 'Made in India', a biopic of Indian cinema created by SS Rajamouli, SS Karthikeya and Varun Gupta
SS Rajamouli, SS Karthikeya, and Varun Gupta recently narrated the script to Jr. NTR, who did not miss a beat to give his nod to the film read more Jr. NTR is reportedly set to play the role of the Father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, in the upcoming project, Made in India. Touted to be a pan-India release, the film was earlier announced as a biopic of Indian cinema, inspired by the life of Dadasaheb Phalke. Earlier in 2023, SS Rajamouli shared the announcement of Made in India, which will be produced by Varun Gupta (Max Studios) and SS Karthikeya (Showing Business). Since then, these makers have been building the script and have locked the complete draft. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to sources, SS Rajamouli, SS Karthikeya, and Varun Gupta recently narrated the script to Jr. NTR, who did not miss a beat to give his nod to the film. Adding to the sources, the RRR actor was blown away by the lesser-known stories of Dadasaheb Phalke. The story revolves around the birth and rise of Indian cinema, and the Young Tiger was stunned by its detailing. After hearing the narration, the actor delved into a discussion about the screenplay and its treatment. The film will also give him a chance to step back from action and explore a space that he hasn't done before. Headlined by Jr. NTR, Made in India is to be created by SS Rajamouli, SS Karthikeya, and Varun Gupta. As the film stars a substantial actor and the creative visions of acclaimed filmmakers, Made in India is sure to dive deep into the making of Indian cinema, delivering a never-seen-before cinematic spectacle through the lens of the Father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke.
