Farah Khan to direct biopic on Rajesh Khanna; Nikhil Dwivedi to produce

According to reports, choreographer-turned-filmmaker Farah Khan is set to direct a big-ticket biopic on Rajesh Khanna, one of the biggest superstars of Indian cinema who enjoyed massive fan following and stardom in his storied career.

Actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi has obtained the rights to adapt author Gautam Chintamani’s book Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna as a motion picture. Gautam is presently busy adapting the book into a screenplay. If plans come to fruition, this will mark the first ever biopic on Khanna, who is often regarded as the first superstar of Hindi cinema.

Confirming the development, Nikhil Dwivedi said, “I found the book very interesting and the thought of turning it into a film stayed with me all these years. It perfectly encapsulates the man behind the most iconic star our country has seen. There is so much intrigue attached to him. He had a regal personality. His career saw a dip, but he bounced right back. He was not meant to be in the business, but not only did he step into it, but he also conquered it. At no point in his career did he lose that regal aura. There are varied aspects to his personality which have been captured well in the book. The story of Rajesh Khanna’s life should have been told a long time ago. People who really knew him understood what made him so special.”

Farah Khan said, “Yes, I have read Gautam’s book and it is very fascinating. We are in conversation over this, but I cannot comment more.”

When asked if he would like to seek permission from Rajesh Khanna’s family, Dwivedi said, “It is not something that we want to do behind someone’s back and we are definitely not making something that thrives on controversies and sensationalism. It is the story of India’s first superstar and we want to capture the magic of his personality and his achievements in the film. A film on his life is long overdue.”

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