John Abraham to play cop Rakesh Maria in biopic: Report
What's the story
Bollywood action hero John Abraham, who has impressed in action-packed films like Force and Batla House, will reportedly play celebrated Indian Police Officer Rakesh Maria in a biopic. According to Pinkvilla, the film will pay tribute to Maria's service to the nation by chronicling his involvement in solving major terror attacks in Mumbai during his tenure (1981-2017).
Insider's statement
'John is excited to play the part...'
The source told Pinkvilla, "Rakesh Maria has been one of the most celebrated cops in the history of Mumbai Police, as he has been closely involved in capturing the men behind multiple terror attacks that took place in Mumbai." "John Abraham is excited to play the part, and he truly believes that the film will be a tribute to celebrate Maria's legacy."
Film focus
Biopic to highlight Maria's unique approach to solving cases
The biopic will reportedly explore Maria's unique way of catching terrorists, giving a glimpse into his way of solving cases. The source added, "The makers are aiming to put forth the mechanism of capturing the terrorists, as Rakesh Maria had a method to function and crack all the cases." "John too is involved in the process of developing this film and is charged up to play the role of most celebrated cop on screen."
Production timeline
Maria's biopic to begin production in late 2025
The film will go on floors in the second half of 2025 with a "leading Indian filmmaker" at the helm. The story will follow Maria's career from his first posting as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to his final posting as Director General of Home Guards. He was reportedly involved in solving the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, the Zaveri Bazaar blast, and the 26/11 attacks. Meanwhile, Abraham has two films in the pipeline: Tehraan and Diplomat.