Priyanka Chopra’s loss is Deepika Padukone’s gain, at least in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s precious territory. After Priyanka, for reasons best known to her, said no to the Sahir Ludhianvi biopic to be produced by Bhansali and directed by debutant Jasmeet Reen, Bhansali’s current favourite Deepika Padukone, who has just completed her third historic epic Padmavati with Bhansali, has stepped into her fourth film with him.
This time she will play the celebrated poetess Amrita Pritam, who was poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi’s muse.
Abhishek Bachchan steps into the coveted role of the legendary Sahir, who wrote such immortal lines as Jinhe naaz hai hind par woh kahan hai... (Pyasa), Dekhi zamane ki yaari... (Kagaz Ke Phool) and Main pal do pal ka shaayar hoon (Kabhi Kabhie).
Abhishek has ceased to consider any other offer for now, choosing to focus unconditionally on the character of the poet who re-wrote many of the rules of filmy poetry.
Says a source, “Abhishek has begun preparing for his Sahir biopic . He will begin rigorous interaction with Sanjay Bhansali after Padmavati releases. But his groundwork on Sahir has begun in right earnest. He is regularly listening to the immortal repertoire of Sahir’s lyrics from Guru Dutt’s Pyasa to Yash Chopra’s Trishul. Abhishek’s father had the good fortune to interact with Sahir when he worked in Kabhi Kabhie and Trishul. So Bachchan Saab is able to provide plenty of invaluable inputs to Abhishek’s preparation.”
It looks like this will be Abhishek’s epic moment on celluloid.
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