After working together on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar collaborated on Toofan which is expected to release this year. While the filmmaker is currently focusing on the post-production of this upcoming sports drama, we have learnt that Rakeysh has already zeroed down on his next directorial. Writer Kamlesh Pandey, who’s worked with the director on Rang De Basanti and Delhi-6 is penning the script. “I am working on something for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, he’ll be directing and producing this film. The story basically revolves around the plight of farmers, the issues they face and the agricultural crisis as a whole,” Kamlesh told Pinkvilla.
He adds that he has been working on the script for the last four years. “In between, Rakeysh had got busy with Mirzya, Fanney Khan and Mere Pyare Prime Minister, but a few months ago we decided to revive it. The only film that I remember which is made on farmers’ issues is Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zamin, and hopefully we will be able to make a difference with our story too. I come from a farmer family, farming is in my blood, in my DNA and I have always felt that we as a nation have been unfair to our farmers due to our misplaced priorities. I am currently in the final stage of scripting. However, I would like to clarify that our story has nothing to do with the ongoing farmer protests,” the writer informed.
Have they started casting for the film? “Rakeysh will look into that once we lock the final script. I don’t get into that aspect of filmmaking,” Pandey added.
This untitled project will mark Rakeysh’s reunion with Kamlesh after 12 years.