Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is set to reunite with acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani for a biopic based on the life of Dadasaheb Phalke, widely revered as the Father of Indian Cinema. This marks their third collaboration after the iconic hits 3 Idiots (2009) and PK (2014), and promises a cinematic tribute to one of India’s most influential cultural pioneers.
Interestingly, the announcement comes just a day after media reports revealed that Jr NTR may also be stepping into Phalke’s shoes in a separate biopic directed by SS Rajamouli. According to those reports, Jr NTR is expected to undergo a “major transformation” for the role, indicating a potentially large-scale project in the making.
As for the Aamir Khan–Rajkumar Hirani film, a press release confirmed that filming will begin in October 2025. Aamir will start preparations for the role after the release of his upcoming movie Sitaare Zameen Par, scheduled to hit theatres on June 20. The film will portray Phalke’s extraordinary journey set against the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle, chronicling how he overcame immense odds to lay the foundation of the world’s largest indigenous film industry.
The script has reportedly been in development for the past four years, with Hirani, his longtime collaborator Abhijat Joshi, and writers Hindukush Bharadwaj and Avishkar Bharadwaj working on the screenplay. Phalke’s grandson, Chandrashekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar, has extended his full support to the project, contributing valuable anecdotes from his grandfather’s life. The film’s period look and setting have already been conceptualized through AI-powered designs by a Los Angeles-based VFX studio, ensuring visual authenticity.
Dadasaheb Phalke, born Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, was a visionary who established Phalke Films Company in 1912. His seminal work, Raja Harishchandra (1913), is recognized as India’s first feature-length silent film. Over a filmmaking career spanning nearly two decades, Phalke directed more than 90 feature films and 27 short films. Some of his other significant works include Lanka Dahan, Shri Krishna Janma, and Kaliya Mardan. His wife Saraswati Phalke also played a vital role, assisting in costume design and on-set catering.
With two major biopics in the works, Dadasaheb Phalke’s legacy is set to be rediscovered by a new generation of filmgoers through the lenses of two of India’s biggest film industries — Bollywood and South Indian cinema.
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