Meena Kumari is a Bollywood actress of yore whose life and artistry are expected to be covered in a biopic. According to the reports, Kriti Sanon was set to play the role of the screen legend, with fashion designer Manish Malhotra as a first time director. But there has been a change in plans. For another time now, the ambitious project has been put off expecting to start shooting sometime in early 2025.
Report: Meena Kumari Biopic: Kriti Sanon and Manish Malhotra’s project delayed again; filming expected to begin in 2025
According to Mid-day, this is not the first time that this film has been delayed. Initially scheduled for shooting in 2023, it was postponed one year. Sources close to production indicate how many times Manish Malhotra had revisited his script until he came up with what he wanted. He wants people who can understand exactly what Meena Kamuri’s life was about through his movie biopic with spot-on precision. A source confided that “The material will be vetted by multiple script doctors before it goes into filming.”
Meena Kumari’s story is deeply intertwined with the golden age of Hindi cinema. Meticulous pre-production planning is essential when recreating that era. This delay gives them extra time for researching historical facts so as to make sure everything looks authentic like it should be from those dark days of India’s Partition till now. This involves paying great attention to detail while creating costumes which are an integral part of any movie dealing with one of the best actresses ever produced by Indian cinema.
Accordingly, “Because it is a period drama they have sufficient notice ahead of filming thus enough prep-time will be given for pre-production planning.” Moreover, “Costumes are also a big part when recounting the story of one of Hindi cinema’s finest actors, and their recreation will take time.”
This untitled film will mark Kriti Sanon’s first ever biopic in her decade-long acting career. It is planned as a moving tribute to Meena Kumari, the “Tragedy Queen” whose iconic roles in sad yet strong women are still remembered by multitudes of her fans. Prior to an untimely demise in 1972, Meena Kumari produced some of the most revered performances in Indian films like Baiju Bawra (1952), Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam (1962), and Pakeezah (1972).
Although no official title has been released yet, interest for this project is bound to rise as we enter into the first half of 2025.
