Rohit Shetty to direct John in Rakesh Maria's biopic: Report
What's the story
Rohit Shetty, famous for his action-packed police dramas like Singham and Sooryavanshi, is reportedly set to direct a biopic on Rakesh Maria, one of India's most revered police officers.
The film will feature John Abraham as Maria.
A source close to the development told Peepingmoon, "Rakesh Maria's life is a gripping tale filled with dramatic highs and lows... With Abraham in the lead and Shetty directing it, this film promises to be an electrifying cinematic experience."
Film details
'Both Shetty and Abraham have long wanted to collaborate...'
The source further added, "Both Shetty and Abraham have long wanted to collaborate, and they're particularly thrilled to join forces on this specific story."
The film is based on Maria's 2020 memoir Let Me Say It Now.
Pre-production is underway with filming set to begin in March 2025.
Shetty is planning a single, uninterrupted 45-day shoot aiming for completion by June 2025.
Notably, previous reports had said that Shetty would only produce the project.
New venture
Shetty's first foray into biographical storytelling
This project will be Shetty's first foray into biographical storytelling. He is reportedly working closely with Maria to ensure his life and career are portrayed authentically.
For Abraham, this role adds another real-life police officer to his repertoire after playing Sanjeev Kumar Yadav in Nikkhil Advani's 2019 action thriller Batla House.
His upcoming release The Diplomat is also based on true events where he plays JP Singh, India's former Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad.
Career highlights
Maria's distinguished career in the Indian Police Service
Maria is one of the most decorated officers in the history of Indian policing.
He was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1994 and the President's Medal for Distinguished Service in 2007.
In his illustrious 36-year-long career, he led many high-profile investigations including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, the 2008 Indian Mujahideen module crackdown, as well as the Sheena Bora murder case.