Who will play Nirav Modi? Gullak director Palash Vaswani to helm biopic

Netflix, Abundantia Entertainment to adapt Flawed a book on Nirav Modi's rise and PNB scam. Directed by Gullak’s Palash Vaswani, the film rolls in late 2025 with A-list casting underway.

Nirav Modi/Instagram

Bollywood is about to reveal Nirav Modi's story—one of India's most contentious businessmen. As per the latest reports, Abundantia Entertainment, the production company of Vikram Malhotra, is preparing to develop a film about the life and notorious swindle of the diamond mogul who is currently on the run. The ambitious, deceitful, and ultimately tragic effort is set to be a Netflix Original.

Palash Vaswani steps into the thriller genre

Directing the film is Palash Vaswani, who is known for his critically praised series Gullak and is about to move on from slice-of-life drama to a high-stakes real-life criminal thriller. As the director of Gullak during seasons two and three and Bada Naam Karenge the filmmaker won over critics and viewers alike. In contrast, his subsequent work delves extensively into international scandal and financial wrongdoing.

Flawed: The Rise and Fall of India’s Diamond Mogul, Nirav Modi chronicles the meteoric ascent of Nirav Modi to the top of the international jewellery industry and his precipitous collapse in the wake of the multi-billion-dollar Punjab National Bank scandal, and the screen adaptation will be based on this book.

Sweeping tale of greed, glamour, and scandal

Beginning with Modi's foray into the diamond trade and ending with the revelation of one of India's largest banking scams, the film will cover a lot of ground and consider the fallout for the Indian banking industry. The film is anticipated to be captivating and illuminating, considering the breadth of the subject and its impact on politics and the economy.

The producers have reportedly begun negotiations with major A-list actors to play Nirav Modi, according to sources familiar with the project. Fans are already wondering who will play this divisive character on screen, even though the lead actor has not been cast yet. The casting announcement is likely to be made in the following weeks.

The revelation coincided perfectly with the recent arrest of Nirav Modi's uncle, Mehul Choksi, another key accused in the case, and the renewed public interest in the PNB scandal.

Production timeline and release plans

The makers plan to start production in the second half of 2025 and aim for an early 2026 Netflix premiere. Vikram Malhotra, whose production company Abundantia Entertainment has released Chhorii 2 (starring Nushrat Bharuccha and Soha Ali Khan), will produce the untitled film.

The Nirav Modi biography, with its A-list cast, combustible content, and Netflix imprimatur, has the potential to be a blockbuster next year.

Share