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NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why Dhanush Was Chosen For APJ Abdul Kalam Biopic, Reveals Director
Chennai: Stating that Dhanush was the "perfect fit" to play Kalam, filmmaker Om Raut has now thanked the actor for choosing to be an integral part of his upcoming film, Kalam: The Missile Man of India. Currently at Cannes 2025, filmmaker Om Raut announced his next directorial venture, a monumental biopic on India's most dearly loved President, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. The film's title was unveiled at the prestigious film festival, where Raut also delved into the much-anticipated project and shared insights on casting Dhanush in the lead role. Speaking about the film, Raut said, 'The teachings of Dr. Kalam are instilled in every youth. I read his book 'Wings of Fire' when I was in college, and I can say that everything I am doing today, and everything I aspire to be, is inspired by the teachings in that book. It changed my perspective on life and that is exactly why I am standing here today.' He continued, 'I've always been deeply inspired by Dr. Kalam's journey. From what I've observed, his life was anchored in three key aspects. The first is education. He was a great teacher who placed immense value on quality learning. Second is innovation, particularly indigenous innovation. He encouraged us to develop within our country. And the third is resilience. The willpower to stay committed to our purpose. I always wanted to make a film based on these principles. By God's grace, producer Abhishek Agarwal approached me with the same idea. When he asked if I'd be interested, I told him I was already working on something similar. He flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai, and we discussed it in detail. Eventually, T-Series and Bhushan Kumar, with whom I've worked on two previous films, came on board for this as well. This marks our third collaboration, and we're moving ahead with full force.' Explaining the decision to cast Dhanush, Raut said, 'When portraying Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, it's essential to capture not just his achievements, but also his spiritual journey and teachings. That's the most challenging part of a biopic like this. And I don't think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen. He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project.' Known for directing acclaimed films like Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Lokmanya, and others, Om Raut steps into the director's chair for Kalam: The Missile Man of India. The film is headlined by Dhanush and produced by Abhishek Agarwal, the driving force behind The Kashmir Files and Parmanu. The screenplay is written by Saiwyn Quadras, known for his work on impactful biopics like Neerja and Maidaan. With anticipation running high, Kalam: The Missile Man of India promises to delve deep into the life of Dr. Kalam from his humble beginnings in Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan, as a celebrated aerospace scientist, visionary, teacher, and ultimately, the people's president. Widely known as the Missile Man of India, his legacy, immortalized through Wings of Fire, continues to inspire generations. More than just a film, this project is positioned as a powerful exploration of leadership, nation-building, and integrity a cinematic tribute to a man who shaped the dreams of a nation.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Om Raut on casting Dhanush in Kalam: 'I don't think there could have been a better choice than him'
Chennai: Stating that Dhanush was the "perfect fit" to play Kalam, filmmaker Om Raut has now thanked the actor for choosing to be an integral part of his upcoming film, 'Kalam: The Missile Man of India' Currently at Cannes 2025, filmmaker Om Raut announced his next directorial venture, a monumental biopic on India's most dearly loved President, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. The film's title was unveiled at the prestigious film festival, where Raut also delved into the much-anticipated project and shared insights on casting Dhanush in the lead role. Speaking about the film, Raut said, 'The teachings of Dr. Kalam are instilled in every youth. I read his book 'Wings of Fire' when I was in college, and I can say that everything I am doing today, and everything I aspire to be, is inspired by the teachings in that book. It changed my perspective on life and that is exactly why I am standing here today.' He continued, 'I've always been deeply inspired by Dr. Kalam's journey. From what I've observed, his life was anchored in three key aspects. The first is education. He was a great teacher who placed immense value on quality learning. Second is innovation, particularly indigenous innovation. He encouraged us to develop within our country. And the third is resilience. The willpower to stay committed to our purpose. I always wanted to make a film based on these principles. By God's grace, producer Abhishek Agarwal approached me with the same idea. When he asked if I'd be interested, I told him I was already working on something similar. He flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai, and we discussed it in detail. Eventually, T-Series and Bhushan Kumar, with whom I've worked on two previous films, came on board for this as well. This marks our third collaboration, and we're moving ahead with full force.' Explaining the decision to cast Dhanush, Raut said, 'When portraying Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, it's essential to capture not just his achievements, but also his spiritual journey and teachings. That's the most challenging part of a biopic like this. And I don't think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen. He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project.' Known for directing acclaimed films like 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior', 'Lokmanya', and others, Om Raut steps into the director's chair for 'Kalam: The Missile Man of India'. The film is headlined by Dhanush and produced by Abhishek Agarwal, the driving force behind 'The Kashmir Files' and 'Parmanu'. The screenplay is written by Saiwyn Quadras, known for his work on impactful biopics like 'Neerja' and 'Maidaan'. With anticipation running high, 'Kalam: The Missile Man of India' promises to delve deep into the life of Dr. Kalam from his humble beginnings in Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan, as a celebrated aerospace scientist, visionary, teacher, and ultimately, the people's president. Widely known as the 'Missile Man of India,' his legacy, immortalized through Wings of Fire, continues to inspire generations. More than just a film, this project is positioned as a powerful exploration of leadership, nation-building, and integrity a cinematic tribute to a man who shaped the dreams of a nation.
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Why is Dhanush playing APJ Abdul Kamal in biopic? Director Om Raut reacts
Filmmaker Om Raut recently answered why he cast actor Dhanush in his next film, 'Kalam: The Missile Man of India', a biopic on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, India's 11th President, and a celebrated scientist. He unveiled the film's poster while attending the 78th Cannes International Film Festival. Raut shared his vision for the biopic on India's former president and aerospace scientist and the reason behind casting Dhanush in the lead thanked Dhanush for choosing to do the biopic. In a statement, he appreciated the 'Raanjhana' actor for his acting prowess and highlighted what he brings on the table as an artiste."When portraying Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, it's essential to capture not just his achievements, but also his spiritual journey and teachings. That's the most challenging part of a biopic like this. And I don't think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen. He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project," he said. The statement was shared by the filmmaker's team. Raut expressed his admiration for Dr Kalam, and said, "The teachings of Dr Kalam are instilled in every youth. I read his book 'Wings of Fire' when I was in college, and I can say that everything I am doing today, and everything I aspire to be, is inspired by the teachings in that book. It changed my perspective on life and that is exactly why I am standing here today."advertisementHe underscored the importance of the values and learnings that Dr Kalam stood for. Raut shared that the late former president encouraged the idea of 'India first' in his work. The director said, "I've always been deeply inspired by Dr. Kalam's journey. From what I've observed, his life was anchored in three key aspects. First is education. He was a great teacher who placed immense value on quality learning. Second is innovation, particularly indigenous innovation. He encouraged us to develop within our country. And the third is resilience, the willpower to stay committed to our purpose. I always wanted to make a film based on these principles.""By God's grace, producer Abhishek Agarwal approached me with the same idea. When he asked if I'd be interested, I told him I was already working on something similar. He flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai, and we discussed it in detail. Eventually, T-Series and Bhushan Kumar, with whom I have worked on two previous films, came on board for this as well. This marks our third collaboration, and we're moving ahead with full force," he filmmaker has previously directed historical epics like 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior,' 'Lokmanya,' and 'Adipurush'.Raut's 'Kalam: The Missile Man of India' is produced by Abhishek Agarwal, who earlier backed films like 'Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran' and 'The Kashmir Files.' The screenplay for the biopic is being penned by 'Neerja' and 'Maidaan' fame Saiwyn The Missile Man of India' will delve into the life of Bharat Ratna Dr Kalam from his humble beginnings in Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan, as a celebrated aerospace scientist, visionary, teacher, and India's eleventh president. The biopic explores his leadership, nation-building, and integrity as he was popularly known as the 'Missile Man of India.'Dhanush, who plays the protagonist, will next be seen in 'Kuberaa' (2025) and 'Idly Kadai' (2025).The remaining cast of 'Kalam: The Missile Man of India' is yet to be Watch
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First Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
'Tanhaji' director Om Raut on casting Dhanush in APJ Abdul Kalam's biopic announced at Cannes 2025: 'He's the perfect choice because...'
The film's title was unveiled at the prestigious film festival, where Raut also delved into the much-anticipated project and shared insights on casting Dhanush in the lead role read more Currently at Cannes 2025, filmmaker Om Raut has announced his next directorial venture a monumental biopic on Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam titled Kalam: The Missile Man of India. The film's title was unveiled at the prestigious film festival, where Raut also delved into the much-anticipated project and shared insights on casting Dhanush in the lead role. Speaking about the film, Raut said, 'The teachings of Dr. Kalam are instilled in every youth. I read his book Wings of Fire when I was in college, and I can say that everything I am doing today, and everything I aspire to be, is inspired by the teachings in that book. It changed my perspective on life and that is exactly why I am standing here today.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He continued, 'I've always been deeply inspired by Dr. Kalam's journey. From what I've observed, his life was anchored in three key aspects. First is education he was a great teacher who placed immense value on quality learning. Second is innovation particularly indigenous innovation. He encouraged us to develop within our country. And the third is resilience the willpower to stay committed to our purpose. I always wanted to make a film based on these principles. By God's grace, producer Abhishek Agarwal approached me with the same idea. When he asked if I'd be interested, I told him I was already working on something similar. He flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai, and we discussed it in detail. Eventually, T-Series and Bhushan Kumar, with whom I've worked on two previous films, came on board for this as well. This marks our third collaboration, and we're moving ahead with full force.' More from Entertainment Netflix to return with The Royals Season 2 despite mixed reviews; most loved shows Black Warrant & Maamla Legal Hai also make a comeback Explaining the decision to cast Dhanush, Raut said, 'When portraying Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, it's essential to capture not just his achievements, but also his spiritual journey and teachings. That's the most challenging part of a biopic like this. And I don't think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen. He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project.' Known for directing acclaimed films like Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Lokmanya, and others, Om Raut steps into the director's chair for Kalam: The Missile Man of India. The film is headlined by Dhanush and produced by Abhishek Agarwal, the driving force behind The Kashmir Files and Parmanu. The screenplay is written by Saiwyn Quadras, known for his work on impactful biopics like Neerja and Maidaan.
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
AI reimagines Dhanush as former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for Om Raut's next film
Dhanush is all set to play former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, in a biopic directed by Om Raut. The movie has been titled Kalam: The Missile Man of India and the first poster was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. The upcoming film will follow his inspiring journey and showcase his roots. Before diving deeper into the film, let's take a look at some AI-generated images of Dhanush as Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Take a look at the pictures below: The upcoming biopic on Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam will follow his incredible journey from his beginnings to becoming India's "Missile Man" and the country's 11th president. The film takes inspiration from Kalam's popular memoir Wings of Fire and aims to highlight not just his achievements in science and politics but also his deep values and vision for the nation. Making the announcement on X, Om Raut wrote, "From Rameswaram to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the journey of a legend begins… India's Missile Man is coming to the silver screen. Dream big. Rise higher. #KALAM - The Missile Man of India." Take a look at the post below: The film is produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Bhushan Kumar. This also marks director Om Raut's third project with the latter. According to a report by Variety, the Adipurush director said that the movie is designed to go beyond politics. It will explore APJ Abdul Kalam's multifaceted personality — from a scientist and teacher to a poet and dreamer. The director mentioned that the former president of India represented leadership built on education, innovation, and humility. Om Raut also stated that portraying Kalam's life on screen is both a creative challenge and a significant responsibility. Coming to Dhanush, this marks his second upcoming biopic after Ilaiyaraaja. He also has several promising projects in the pipeline, including Kuberaa, Idly Kadai, and Tere Ishk Mein. Additionally, he is working with directors like Rajkumar Periyasamy, Mari Selvaraj, Vetrimaaran, and others. However, the titles of these films have not been officially announced yet. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates!
