Biopic on F1 Trailblazer Narain Karthikeyan In The Works

India’s first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, is set to have his life and career immortalized on the big screen. Titled NK370, the upcoming biopic will chronicle the inspirational journey of the motorsport icon who put India on the global F1 map.

The project comes in the wake of renewed global interest in Formula One cinema, spurred by the buzz surrounding the Brad Pitt-led Hollywood F1 film. Riding that wave, NK370 is currently in development under the banner of Blue Marble Films.

Acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan, known for Malik and Take Off, will helm the film. The screenplay is penned by Shalini Usha Devi, celebrated for her work on the National Award-winning Soorarai Pottru. The production is backed by Faraz Ahsan, Vivek Rangachari, and Pratik Maitra.

Speaking about the film, director Mahesh Narayanan stated, “Narain Karthikeyan’s journey isn’t just about racing. It’s about belief — in yourself, your country, and a dream no one else can see. That’s what drew me to this story.”

Producer Faraz Ahsan, who pursued the rights for several years, added, “India has some of the most dangerous roads in the world — just surviving traffic here takes skill. But what fascinated me was how someone like NK went from navigating those roads to racing at 365 km/h — a speed faster than a commercial aircraft at takeoff.”

Narain Karthikeyan created history in 2005 by becoming the first Indian to race in Formula One, driving for the Jordan team. His path breaking entry opened doors for motorsport’s visibility in India.

Indian cinema has previously seen successful biopics on cricket legends such as M.S. Dhoni, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Sachin Tendulkar (via docu-drama), while ’83 realistically captured Kapil Dev's historic World Cup win. NK370 is now set to shift the spotlight from the cricket pitch to the racetrack.

More details regarding the cast and production timeline are expected soon.