Aamir Khan on Dadasaheb Phalke biopic: 'Drama with humour... that's the genre Rajkumar Hirani enjoys most'

In their third film together, a biopic on cinema trailblazer Dadasaheb Phalke, Aamir Khan will star in the titular role and it will be directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Production on the film will commence in October 2025, following four years of planning. 

Reuniting after blockbusters

After producing two hugely successful films together, 3 Idiots (2009) and PK (2014), this is Khan and Hirani's third collaboration. It is believed that the next biopic will have the same tone as the two critically acclaimed films, which combined comedy, emotion, and commentary.

Hindukush and Avishkar Bharadwaj, as well as Hirani's long-time collaborator Abhijat Joshi, have written the project. Word on the street is that the script has been in the works for some time now, with the goal of capturing the life and work of the man commonly recognised as the "father of Indian cinema", Dadasaheb Phalke.

ALSO READ: Two takes on Dadasaheb Phalke: Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani’s intimate portrait vs. SS Rajamouli-Jr NTR’s cultural epic 

Aamir Khan confirms signature Rajkumar Hirani humour will remain

Khan recently acknowledged in an interview that Hirani and writer Joshi share a preference for comedy moments when asked if they will be incorporated into the story. The superstar believes the filmmaker's favourite genre is comedy-drama, which all three truly like. Thus, he said, therefore, it's likely that this will also fit into that category.

Now that Sitaare Zameen Par has hit theatres, Khan will start getting ready for the role. Visual effects firms based in Los Angeles are actively developing the visual elements for the Phalke biography, incorporating artificial intelligence-powered references. The purpose of these visuals is to bring the audience back to the time when Phalke was active.

Rajkumar Hirani's first biopic

This is Hirani's first biography, and it follows his recent pattern of starring diverse, inclusive individuals who question established conventions. Even though the makers have not revealed all the casting news just yet, the industry is quite excited about the Khan and Hirani combination.

The makers anticipate a production duration of multiple months, with a likely release date in the latter half of 2025.