Why are biopics such a hit in Bollywood?

Biggies such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mohammad Azharuddin are not the only ones on whom biopics are made.

Biggies such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mohammad Azharuddin are not the only ones on whom biopics are made. Filmmakers are also helming biopics on other unsung heroes such as freedom fighter Gour Hari Das, Neerja Bhanot, an air hostess who was murdered while saving passengers from terrorists on board, among others.

Sonam-Kapoor-in-Neerja-Bhanot-biopic

Director Anant Mahadevan in Gaur Hair Dastaan portrays Das’s struggle to find his identity. Actor Vinay Pathak plays the protagonist and has even gone bald for the role. “Getting into the skin of the character for a biopic is altogether a different thing. The reaction to the situation on screen should match with the original personality,” Pathak says.

Ketan Mehta’s Mountain Man, that stars actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is finally complete. The story is based on the life of Dashrath Manjhi, who carved thorough a mountain so that his village would have access to better medical facilities. “I couldn’t meet Manjhi. I had few reference video. I had a chance to meet his son and people from his village, which helped shape my character,” he says.

Actor Sonam Kapoor who will be playing Bhanot, posted the first look of her character on Twitter.

Manoj Bajpayee-starrer Aligarh, produced and directed by Hansal Mehta, is based on the life of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was thrown out of his job of a professor at Aligarh Muslim University as he was gay. He later committed suicide. “This film is something that has given me a lot of satisfaction, as far as performing this role is concerned. I’ve tried something completely new,” Manoj was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile work on actor Aamir Khan’s Dangal, that is based on the story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters Geeta and Babita “Right now, I am learning wrestling and Haryanvi, and putting on weight. So, you can say I am in full prep mode,” Aamir said earlier.

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar will also be making a film on the life of Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest. “Farhan is very excited about this project and will direct it himself. He has contacted me on Twitter on April 20, but that time I was in Australia. Now we got the chance to discuss the project,” Arunima was quoted as saying earlier.