Rohit Shetty and John Abraham team up for Rakesh Maria biopic; all you need to know

Rohit Shetty, who has captivated viewers for years in blockbuster cop flicks like Singham, Simmba, and Sooryavanshi, is finally bringing the big-screen treatment of the incredible tale of a genuine supercop. One of India's most famous and successful police officers, Rakesh Maria, will be the subject of the filmmaker's next mainstream police drama, as per the latest reports.

John Abraham to play Rakesh Maria in the film

According to Peeping Moon, starring as Maria, a dedicated police officer whose career was shaped by his involvement in some of the most sensitive and high-stakes investigations in the country, John Abraham will bring his A-game to this long-gestating film.

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The story of Rakesh Maria's life is riveting since it contains numerous contentious events in addition to tremendous highs and lows. This film, directed by Shetty and starring Abraham, appears to offer a thrilling cinematic experience, blending the filmmaker's signature style of intense, life-like storytelling with a harsh, realistic backdrop. The insider told the entertainment portal that the actor-director duo has always desired to work together, and they are especially excited to work on this particular subject.

Film based on Rakesh Maria's memoir

The unnamed film is still in the pre-production stages, although it will be based on Maria's memoir Let Me Say It Now (released in 2020). Shetty plans to complete the project in a single, continuous 45-day schedule, with filming set to begin in the middle of next month. He plans to finish filming in June 2025 and then move on to the following season of Khatron Ke Khiladi. Later that year, he will begin filming the highly anticipated Golmaal 5.

Shetty is collaborating closely with Maria to assure an accurate portrayal of his brave journey for the biopic, which is his first foray into true-life storytelling. This film is the second real-life police officer that Abraham has played, the first being Sanjeev Kumar Yadav in the 2019 action thriller Batla House, directed by Nikkhil Advani and based on the 2008 Batla House encounter case. As JP Singh, the former Deputy High Commissioner of India in Islamabad who was instrumental in Uzma Ahmed's 2017 return to India, he stars in his upcoming film The Diplomat, which is likewise based on true events.

Rakesh Maria’s illustrious career and contributions to Indian policing

In 1994, Maria was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and in 2007, he was presented with the President’s Medal for Outstanding Service, further solidifying his status as one of the most outstanding officers in the history of Indian policing. During his distinguished 36-year tenure with the Indian Police Service, he oversaw numerous high-profile investigations, such as the ones into the Sheena Bora murder case, the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai, the 2008 crackdown on Indian Mujahideen modules, and the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993. His extraordinary contributions to law enforcement have forever changed the battle against crime and terrorism in India.

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