Guru Dutt series is in the works, book rights acquired
What's the story
The life and legacy of the late legendary Bollywood actor, director, writer, and producer Guru Dutt are reportedly being adapted into a multi-part series. Manish Goswami's production house, Siddhant Cinevision, has acquired the rights to Bichde Sabhi Baari Baari, a biography of Dutt by novelist Bimal Mitra, Mid-Day reported. The project is still in its early stages, and no further details about the director or cast have been revealed yet.
Author's insight
Mitra and Dutt had a close personal-professional bond
Mitra had a close personal and professional association with Dutt, which began when he adapted Mitra's acclaimed Bengali novel Saheb Bibi Golam for the screen.
As per a source, "The author spent considerable time with Guru at his Mumbai home and Lonavala farmhouse, working on scripts and having long conversations with him."
"Those interactions became the foundation for the memoir."
Biography insights
'Bichde Sabhi Baari Baari' explores Dutt's vulnerabilities beyond his work
Bichde Sabhi Baari Baari also sheds light on Dutt's troubled marriage to singer Geeta Dutt, his bond with actor Waheeda Rehman, and the anxieties and vulnerabilities he experienced as an actor and filmmaker.
The book reportedly delves into these aspects of Dutt's life beyond his celebrated body of work in films like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.
Industry trend
Meanwhile, another project, 'Kamal Aur Meena,' is also in works
The Guru Dutt project comes at a time when Bollywood is increasingly revisiting the lives of its legendary stars.
Among the most closely watched projects is filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra's Kamal Aur Meena, which explores the relationship between Meena Kumari and her filmmaker-husband Kamal Amrohi.
According to Variety India's recent report, Triptii Dimri and Saif Ali Khan have been approached to play leads.
The makers haven't confirmed the report.