Indira Gandhi’s sway on Bollywood
Indian filmmakers can’t seem to get enough of the former Prime Minister. Here’s another film on her
Nikhil Dwivedi, the producer of Veere Di Wedding, Dabangg 3 and the recent Nagin series, is working on his next, which is on the 1971 India–Pakistan War. It will supposedly showcase the camaraderie between the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and chief of army staff Sam Manekshaw.
“India has never seen a real war film. We plan to show the event as is, right from a historian’s textbook to celluloid. My attempt would be to make it as real and authentic as possible, without any jingoism. We want to design it as per international standards,” says Nikhil.
However, that’s not the only upcoming film on the former prime minister. Meghna Gulzar and Ronnie Screwvala have already planned film with Vicky Kaushal as Sam Manekshaw. Indira Gandhi’s character, which was showcased
a earlier in films such as the Madhur Bhandarkar 2017-film Indu Sarkar, will also appear in the period spy-thriller Bell
India has never seen a real war film. We plan to show the event as is, right from a historian’s textbook to celluloid. My attempt would be to make it as real and authentic as possible, without any jingoism.
— Nikhil Dwivedi,
producer
Bottom with Lara Dutta playing her.
The former prime minister’s character will also be shown by Vidya Balan in her web series on her. Speaking about the series, Vidya had earlier said, “Yes, I am trying to make a web series on Indira Gandhi. I would say that it is still an attempt. A web series means a lot of work and a lot of research, and it takes a lot more time than to even try and make a film. But when I do it, I will do it very well.”
A biopic on Indira Gandhi starring Manisha Koirala was also announced long ago, although that never got made.