The buzz around SS Rajamouli’s Dadasaheb Phalke biopic has cooled, the project appears to have been pushed to the back burner, thanks largely to clashing schedules and uncertainties around its leading man. While Aamir Khan’s version, to be directed by Rajkumar Hirani, moves ahead, Rajamouli’s venture is reportedly awaiting clarity before revival.
Originally, Jr NTR was considered to play Dadasaheb Phalke in Rajamouli’s version, with Nitin Kakkar attached to direct. But Jr NTR’s packed calendar created conflicts. In response, the team began scouting Prabhas for the lead. According to a source quoted by Mid-Day, Prabhas’s schedule is locked until early 2026 — he is slated to work on Spirit (directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga) and then Kalki 2898 AD Part 2 under Nag Ashwin.
Because of that, Kakkar has reportedly diverted his attention to Awarapan 2 (with Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani), currently filming in Thailand. The source says Kakkar “didn’t want to sit idle waiting for the Phalke project to clear its hurdles.”
So for now, the word is: the Rajamouli-led biopic will be revived only when a suitable lead actor is free.
To complicate matters further, Dadasaheb Phalke’s grandson, Chandrashekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar, has publicly raised objections. In an interview with Amar Ujala, he claimed no one from Rajamouli’s team ever reached out to his family. “If someone is making a film on Phalke ji, then at least the family should be talked to,” he said. Meanwhile, in contrast, he has acknowledged that Aamir-Hirani’s team has been in touch with the family for years, doing research and maintaining contact.
Supporters of Rajamouli argue that such familial clearance is standard for biopics, citing past examples where filmmakers sought approvals from heirs before proceeding.
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