The grapevine has it that SLB's script on the late poet-lyricist's biopic has elicited the superstar's nod. The duo collaborated in Devdas and now they could come together again in 2018.
Earlier Irrfan Khan's name was being thrown in the fray and then Fawad Khan's name started doing the rounds many as to who'd play Urdu poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ambitious biopic announced in 2015. Titled Gustakhiyan, the film will trace Sahir's relationship with poetess-novelist Amrita Pritam before he went on to court singer actress Sudha Malhotra.
Sahir, real name Abdul Hayee, was linked with many women through the 1950s-70s but he never married. The film also details Sahir's stint in Hindi films, which earned him his first Filmfare Award for his work in Taj Mahal in 1963. It was followed by another Black Lady for Best Lyrics for Kabhie Kabhie 13 years later.
While the grapevine was abuzz that Priyanka Chopra was slated to play Amrita, towards the beginning of the year, Deepika Padukone also joined the speculation race.Bhansali quelled all rumours by diving head-long into another ambitious project, Padmavati, in mid-2016. But it has now emerged that the filmmaker has found his Sahir in his Devdas, Shah Rukh Khan.
"Bhansali and SRK met late one night last week and the filmmaker handed over the complete script of the biopic to SRK, telling him that he would like to direct him in 2018," reveals a source close to the development. "There is a lot of poetry in the film and SRK has been reading Sahir's ghazals and nazms."
A heavy drinker and smoker, Sahir passed away at the age of 59 in the presence of his close lyricist friend Javed Akhtar. The end will be a part of Bhansali's narrative and, according to the source, the filmmaker is planning an extremely poetic approach to the film.
While SRK is yet to sign on the dotted line, sources close to the actor informed a tabloid that he loved the script and is eager to re-unite with SLB. "Bhansali and SRK have been spending a lot of time together lately, discussing work and cinema," adds the source, confirming that the leading lady has yet to be finalised.
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 "Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Leela Bansali, Gustakhiyan, Sahir Ludhianvi,Amrita Pritam,Devdas,Deepika Padukone,Fawad Khan,I")
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