WHEN HISTORY CALLS
As Kangana Ranaut starts work on a film about Rani Laxmibai, we take a look at how historicals have become the latest mantra for Bollywood
What’s common between Mughal-EAzam (1960), Taj Mahal (1963), Lagaan (2001) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008)? Besides the fact that they’ve been big boxoffice winners, they are all period films. While Hindi film industry has always had an affinity with historical events, its love affair has clearly not been prolific.
THE LINE-UP
Now, a number of filmmakers clearly seem interested to travel back in time for inspirations. For starters, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukonestarrer Padmavati is based on the 1303 siege of Rajasthan’s Chittor fort by emperor Alauddin Khilji and Rajput queen Padmavati also known as Padmini, while Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi is based on the life of Rani Laxmibai.
“When I signed this film, my first thought was, ‘how come there’s no film on ‘Jhansi ki Rani’ yet?’ So, I consider it a stroke of luck that I’m doing it,” says Kangana, adding that Laxmibai’s character is “very superhero-like”. She adds, “Usually, my characters are flawed and human in terms of their abilities. But this one is extraordinary.”
CHALLENGING JOB
Deepika, who plays Padmavati in Bhansali’s film is also “excited” about the part. “It’s so exciting that I have been given an opportunity to play such a powerful role. Padmini is someone who is worshipped by so many people. The film is something that I am extremely proud of, and I feel very lucky that something like this came my way,” says the actor.
Interestingly, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan’s next, Thugs of Hindostan is also believed to be a period film with a story that revolves around a gang that created havoc for the British Empire before independence of India. The film also stars Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh. Reportedly, Alia Bhatt’s next is a period espionage thriller, based on Harinder Sikka’s Calling Sehmat, which is set in late 1970, at the onset of the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
MORE TO COME
The list goes on. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the famous Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto in the Nandita Dasdirected biopic, Manto, while Madhur Bhandarkar’s next, Indu Sarkar is set against the backdrop of the 1975 Emergency. Salman Khan’s next, Tubelight is a historical war drama set against the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Also, the historical Battle of Saragarhi seems to have inspired multiple films including the two starring Akshay Kumar and Randeep Hooda respectively. Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar is also set to make a film, based on freedom fighter Udham Singh’s life.