A film based on the life of Balasaheb Thackeray is being launched on 21 December in Mumbai. The biopic is being produced by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, under the banner ‘Raut’ers Entertainment’, with Uddhav Thackeray’s blessings. But the biggest surprise in this entire project is that the role of the late Hindu Hriday Samrat Maratha political leader is reportedly being played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. What’s more, this biopic on Balasaheb’s life will be directed by MNS leader, Abhijeet Panse.
According to sources, before Nawazuddin Siddiqui was signed on for the role, Akshay Kumar and Irrfan Khan were also being considered for the part.
Amitabh Bachchan, who played the lead in Sarkar, a character inspired by Bal Thackeray, will carry out the first clap of the film on 21 December during its launch. The biopic backed by Shiv Sena, will be in Hindi.
Another Marathi film based on the life of Balasaheb’s ideologies was released in 2015 titled Balkadu, which was also the brainchild of Sanjay Raut.
Balasaheb’s daughter-in-law, Smita Thackeray had also announced a similar project on Thackeray’s life in 2015, to be directed by her son Rahul Thackeray, who had assisted Rajkumar Hirani in PK. But the film has met with resistance from Balasaheb’s son, Uddhav Thackeray.
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