Sanjay Gupta’s superhero outing!

Traditionally, Hindi filmmakers haven’t been very high on the uperhero genre. Apart from rrish, Bollywood hasn’t ally had a major superhero. t now, Sanjay Gupta is set join the bandwagon with the akshak series. The filmmaker has acquired the rights to the comic book/ raphic a novel — revolving around a vigilante superhero — of the same name to turn it into a superhero franchise.

“I had met the Rakshak writer, Shamik Dasgupta some time ago when I was working on another big film. At that time, he had shared the Rakshak books with me but I forgot about it due to my other works. But recently, when Shamik came on the sets of Mumbai Saga, it was

John (Abraham) who reminded me about it, and that it had a great potential. When I read it, I was blown away with the storyline, central character and the supervillain as well. It will be India’s first film based on a graphic novel/ comic book,” says Gupta. After six months of talks with Shamik and the book’s publisher, the filmmaker has acquired the rights. “I will direct it but right now, I have my plate full with Mumbai Saga followed by another movie,” says Gupta. The first film of the series is likely to go on the floors towards the end of next year. “Shamik is also working on the subsequent books and we have also started the initial work,” says Gupta.

While Gupta says no actor is attached to the Rakshak series yet , he says. “there is no hurry”. “Not just hero, I have to cast a solid supervillain, who is great with martial arts and all. So, it’s going to be an uphill task. But I feel, it’s high time we have more of our indigenous superheroes,” concludes Gupta.

Prashant Singh

The Rakshak comic book

PHOTO: SONU MEHTA/HT